Best Native Plants for a Natural Privacy Screen

Robert Frost wrote, “Good fences make good neighbors,” but sometimes you are not allowed to build a fence.  You don’t have to view an eyesore, though.  Native plants are good for the environment and can be used to block views of something you would rather not see, reduce noise pollution, and create privacy.

Plant A Variety

Privacy Screen

When most people think of a privacy screen, they think of a tall hedge of all one species of plant.  However, if one of those plants gets a disease or pest, it will quickly spread to the other plants.  You can lose your whole hedge in one foul swoop.  In addition to no longer providing privacy, you lose your investment in the plants.

Instead of planting all one species, planting a variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials makes the hedge more resilient to droughts, flooding, pests, diseases, and unusual cold weather.  With climate change, unusual weather may kill one species of plant, but some of your hedge will survive.

Species Diversity Has Advantages

Planting a mixed privacy hedge has additional advantages.  You can plant more species of native plants.  This not only looks nicer, but it also provides food and shelter for more wildlife.  When choosing plants for your privacy screen, choose trees, shrubs, perennials, and ground covers of different heights.  This layered screen looks neat and works well.

Use larger trees as your backdrop.  Between and in front of each larger tree, plant a shorter tree or shrub.  Between and in front of those, plant a perennial that is shorter.  Finish with a native grass or groundcover to frame the privacy screen.

Advantages of Native Plants

Native plants are usually defined as plants that grew in your area before European contact.  They evolved in the region so do not need supplemental water after they are established except for a drought.  They need less fertilizer since they evolved to use what is naturally available in the soil.  Native plants also evolved to coexist with the diseases and pests in the area, so they require few pesticides.  The wildlife in the area evolved with these plants, so you will have more wildlife in your yard.

Using native plants helps species diversity beyond just your yard.  It helps provide a corridor between parks and other natural areas that wildlife can use when migrating or just finding a place to raise their young.

Avoid Invasive Plants

Invasive plants are plants that are not native to the area but grow well there.  In time, these plants spread beyond one yard into parks and wild areas.  Without natural enemies or diseases to stop their growth, invasive plants outcompete native plants.  Species diversity crashes and everything from insects to large mammals loses food and shelter.

Most invasive plants were brought into North America by people.  Many ornamental plants can be invasive.  For example, European privet, Chinese silvergrass, Chinese wisteria, Japanese barberry, and burning bush are often used in privacy screens but will crowd out native plants. 

Choosing Native Plants

Even though a plant is native to your area, some plants will not do well in your specific growing conditions.  You will need to evaluate a native plant to see if it fits in your landscape.  Many people plant trees and shrubs in places that are not large enough for the height and spread of the mature tree.  They either have to remove the tree as it gets big or trim it.

Another factor to consider is how moist or dry the soil in your area is.  Bog plants will not grow well in dry situations.  While you can usually increase the soil moisture, plants used to dryer conditions will struggle in wet areas.

Is the prospective site in sun or shade?  Some plants need full sun, especially the big trees, such as a chestnut oak.  Many smaller trees and shrubs, such as redbuds, are adapted to dappled light since they naturally grow in forests.  Some perennial plants are also adapted to dappled light, such as black cohosh.  Other perennials prefer full sun, including many prairie plants such as purple coneflowers  Layering with these plants in your privacy screen will help you have a resilient landscape.

privacy planting

Consider whether you want your privacy screen to work during the winter or just the growing season.  Deciduous trees and shrubs drop their leaves in the fall and are bare during the winter.  Including evergreen trees and shrubs will help screen your yard during the winter, too. 

Tips For Success

After you decide what plants you want in your privacy screen, make sure you plant them correctly to keep the plants healthy.  Here are some tips.

  • Do not dig in your yard until you call your state’s utilities marking service. Hitting a pipe or cable could be expensive.
  • Make sure you have water available to the spot you are planting. Even native plants need watering the first 2-3 years for trees and shrubs and 1-2 years for perennials.
  • Dig the hole twice as wide as the roots of the plant. Dig it just a little deeper than the plant’s root ball.
  • Planting works best with two people. One person holds the plant at the correct depth and the other person fills in the dirt.
  • Do not put fertilizer in the bottom of the hole. It burns the small root hairs that the plant needs to absorb water.
  • Spread out the roots in the hole before filling the hole in.
  • Use the soil you dug out of the hole to fill it.
  • Don’t plant your plants too close together. Crowded plants are more vulnerable to disease and do not grow as big.
  • Put 2-3 inches of mulch around your new plants. Leave a three-inch space between the trunk and mulch for trees and shrubs.  Mulch out to the edge of the dripline.  For perennials, leave a one-inch space between the mulch and plant.  Mulch conserves water, helps keep weeds from growing, and moderates soil temperature.

We Can Help

TN Nursery can help you design a privacy screen that is made up of different plants native to your area.  Give us a call at 931.692.7325 and our staff can help you find the plants that work best in your area.

 

Chestnut Oak Tree - TN Nursery

Chestnut Oak Tree

The Chestnut Oak is a large deciduous tree species known for its deeply lobed, toothed leaves and acorn-bearing acorns, commonly found in eastern North America's forests. Majestic and resilient species that offer numerous landscaping benefits. Its distinct characteristics and contributions make it popular in various outdoor settings, such as parks, gardens, and residential landscapes. The Chestnut Oak Tree (Quercus Montana) is a beautiful addition to any lawn with its towering trunk, long branches, and vibrant green leaves. At maturity, it stands 50—to 60 feet tall and belongs to the beech family. As its namesake implies, it produces nuts during early fall. Chestnut Oak Seedlings Promote WIldlife and Harvesting Potential Whether on a home property or commercial lawn, the stately appearance makes them a welcome addition. Because of their durability and strength, they are excellent at supporting a thriving local ecosystem. Many wildlife, including chipmunks, squirrels, and native birds, make their homes among the branches. They are native to the eastern United States and play a vital role in ecosystems from southern Maine to central Mississippi and Michigan in the north. Once mature, its beautiful green leaves offer ample shade, and it is easy to trim branches back to create a manicured landscape that still provides environmental benefits. Chestnut Oak Trees Get Very Tall They can reach up to 125 feet tall in the wild and put on a dazzling display of warm colors during autumn. Their naturally glossy green leaves will shift into vibrant yellow and reddish brown hues during the fall, making them the perfect choice for someone who dreams of an autumn paradise in their yard. Mighty oaks are hearty saplings that will thrive for decades with proper care. With an average lifespan of 400 years, these are some of the longest-living members of their plant family. Imagine planting one today and growing it throughout your life, watching the branches grow more robust and the trunk taller yearly.  One sapling can be planted in a loved one's honor and grow to become a beloved heirloom that generations of your family care for. Chestnut Oak Tree Has a Natural Beauty That Lasts for Centuries Because Chestnut Oak Trees live for so long, they are excellent investments for homeowners and commercial properties. Transform your landscape with a single sapling and watch magnificent wildlife and beauty unfold as it grows.

Redbud Tree - TN Nursery

Redbud Tree

The Redbud Tree has heart-shaped leaves and delicate purple-lilac colored blooms in early Spring, making this a family favorite. They are hardy in most areas and can tolerate sun or shade. It is a beloved and visually captivating addition to landscaping due to its remarkable aesthetic appeal and various benefits. Native to North America, this deciduous type is often sought after for its ornamental attributes, making it a popular choice for homeowners, urban planners, and landscape designers.     Redbud Tree Is Stunning In Landscapes The tree is an excellent specimen plant that brings beauty to lawns, gardens, parks, and borders. Its vibrant spring blooms, lush green summer foliage, and intriguingly varied branches provide seasonal interest and texture. It can transform a landscaping design into a stunning focal point when paired with flowering annuals, perennials, and other shrubs. Flowers Of Redbud Tree This showy shrub bursts through with beautiful blooms in early spring. The flowers are about ½ inches wide and form clusters along the branches. Flower clusters range from light to deep pink and purple, and they can also be white. Heart-shaped leaves appear after blooming, lasting up to three weeks. The Leaves Of Redbud Tree Leaves are about two to six inches in width. They start as light red and progressively become bright green over the summer. In the fall, they become a greenish-yellow hue and can contain hints of red and orange. Next, flat pod-like leaves appear. Pods are about two to four inches in length. They start as light green and become deep brown as they mature over the winter. Seeds inside the pods can re-propagate after falling to the ground. Redbud Tree has a multi-trunk shape that divides near the ground. Multiple limbs and branches extend outward in a graceful manner. This offers a touch of landscaping interest and color extension. The brown bark is typically smooth and bare when young. The bark becomes scaly and turns dark gray as it matures. The bark is smooth and ranges from brown to light gray throughout the year. In winter, the bark becomes scaly with deep cracks. Flowers can sometimes bloom along the limbs and trunk. Called “cauliflory,” this adds a unique element to the garden aesthetic. Incredibly versatile, a Redbud Tree ranges in size from a shrub to a tiny sapling. With an average height expectancy of 20 to 30 feet and limbs and branches that can spread up to 35 feet in width, they offer a variety of landscaping possibilities. Considered an understory, meaning it grows between taller varieties and the ground, it provides habitat and environmental benefits and a colorful and textual addition to the landscape.

Black Cohosh - TN Nursery

Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh features large, dark green, and deeply divided leaves, adding elegance to any garden or landscape. The architectural quality of the foliage provides a dramatic backdrop for other flowering plants and serves as a focal point in shady areas. This native perennial plant has several pleasing attributes when incorporated into landscaping designs. This hardy and versatile plant is a buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) member, known for its unique foliage, vibrant flower spikes, and ecological benefits.  Black Cohosh Is a North America Native Perennial Black Cohosh, sometimes called black snakeroot or fairy candle, is a perennial plant in North America. Initially utilized by Native American tribes as herbal medicine, black cohosh has been discovered for its various health benefits, especially for women. It is commonly used to treat conditions related to the menopause period, including hot flushing, night sweating, and mood swings.  Furthermore, it has been used to enhance hormonal system stability and alleviate symptoms associated with menstruation. The plant is erect and thin-stemmed, growing white flower spikes on the top. It blooms in the latter half of spring to early summer. Its green foliage makes it excellent for gardens and natural settings. Moreover, black cohosh plants for sale supplements and extracts are available in health stores and on the internet, which will be helpful to those who prefer natural remedies. Features of Black Cohosh Plant The Black Cohosh plant has an erect appearance and contains thin stems that can grow up to 2 meters tall. These stems are crowned with white flower spikes, which bloom during late spring to early summer, enhancing the overall aesthetics of the garden. Black Cohosh can be quickly grown in woodland with deep, fertile, and well-drained soil. It grows best in partial shade, which makes it ideal for shaded garden areas. Besides helping with menopausal symptoms, black cohosh plants for sale are thought to contain anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The black cohosh plant has traditionally been used to cure rheumatism, arthritis, and muscle aches. Black Cohosh contributes to ecological systems by supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies. This plant also provides habitat to some butterfly species, enhancing species diversity. To beautify your garden, get the medicinal Black Cohosh from T.N. Nursery. Use our other popular herbal remedies, such as Evening Primrose, Jacobs Ladder, and Baneberry Doll's Eye, for a beautiful and healthy garden. 

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