Secret garden: Privacy trees that won’t outgrow a small space

Expanding urban density and shrinking lot sizes often leave gardeners with the need for trees that will provide some privacy or serve as a focal point without taking over the yard in a couple of years.

Some frequently planted trees, such as Leyland cypress, may quickly outgrow their space, leading to an expensive removal and redesign of the area.

Don’t get me wrong — I have nothing against Leyland cypress. The fast-growing coniferous evergreen can certainly offer quick screening if the garden has room for its width of 15 to 20 feet and height of 25 to 30 feet in 10 years. As Leyland cypress matures, it can reach heights of over 50 feet and may become wider than 20 feet. If your yard does not have room for a tree this size, maintenance can become expensive.

Fortunately, there are a multitude of other plants that offer interesting foliage texture and color, have a strong upright presence and will keep to a relatively smaller size.

Is the neighbor’s second-story window just beyond your fence something you’d prefer not to look into each time you walk out onto the back deck?

A great plant to give some height in a narrow space is Picea abies “Cupressina,” or columnar Norway spruce. This evergreen has a tight, columnar growth habit and dark green needles. Its 10-year height is around 20 feet with a width of 5 to 6 feet. At maturity, the columnar Norway spruce can reach heights of over 30 feet. It can serve as a narrow screen or a vertical focal point in the landscape. Plant this tree in full sun.

Another columnar conifer that has unusual foliage is Sciadopitys verticulla “Joe Kozey.” Commonly known as umbrella pine, the “Joe Kozey” variety grows smaller than the species.

Its whorls of long green needles and the tight, columnar habit make this an interesting addition to the garden. “Joe Kozey” is a slow grower, eventually attaining a height of 20 feet and a width of up to 6 feet. This umbrella pine can also be strategically situated in a large container on a patio to add a vertical element. Or plant it in between wooden screen panels as a background to a garden room. Umbrella pine prefers full sun and soil with no standing water.

Here’s a conifer that’s sure to be a conversation starter: Abies pinsapo “Aurea,” or golden Spanish fir.

Golden Spanish fir can offer some height as well as being a spectacular presence in the garden. With its unique foliage and narrow pyramidal form, it deserves a spot in the garden where it can be appreciated.

Stiff needles glow with golden-yellow color in the summer months, radiating outward from the branches. Its color is best in full sun, but protect it from a very hot spot, such as a patio that radiates heat or a south-facing wall. The growth rate is fairly slow, but this plant may eventually reach a height of over 20 feet and possibly grow as wide as 10 to 15 feet. This unusual plant may be hard to find, but it is worth the effort.

Add a bit of blue to the yard with the small growing pine Pinus parviflora “Aoi.” The short needles of this tree are a silvery blue on one side and green on the other side, with an abundance of small cones. The word “Aoi” means blue in Japanese. This pine has a sculpted, Asian feel to its appearance. Its growth habit is slender and upright, offering an architectural presence. Pinus p. “Aoi” will grow to 6 to 15 feet tall in 10 years. Give “Aoi” full sun and good drainage.

For an narrow-growing conifer that offers more height, Cupressus macrocarpa “Donard Gold” may be just the ticket. This broadly pyramidal conifer will eventually reach 20 to 30 feet and be 8 feet wide or wider at maturity. Give this plant the room it needs.

Its distinctive two-toned foliage features chartreuse new growth with lemon-yellow inner needles. The foliage is somewhat fragrant, with a slight citrus scent. This plant can be a focal feature and offer some height in a planting bed. The bright color of the foliage can be eye-catching enough to detract from a tall building in the background.

Deciduous trees also can provide seasonal screening, with the framework of bare branches in winter sometimes being just enough of a visual distraction to draw attention away from an unsightly object.

I like Acer palmatum “Twombly’s Red Sentinel” for its brilliant red colors and upright shape. This Japanese maple is a “sport,” or a plant mutation, of the larger growing variety “Bloodgood.” The new foliage emerges bright red and turns scarlet in the fall. Its mature heigh is 10 to 15 feet.

Any of the above trees can be planted to create privacy while adding an interesting mix of textures and foliage color without overgrowing their place in your garden.

Pam Roy of Planscapes is an award-winning landscape designer with more than 30 years of experience. Contact her at 425-252-9469 or info@planscapesdesign.com. Or go to www.planscapesdesign.com for more information.