How to Plant and Care for Your New Privacy Trees

Creating a private oasis in your garden is a luxurious way to enhance your outdoor space, offering peace and seclusion while beautifying the landscape. Privacy trees, particularly evergreen varieties, are excellent for forming natural screens that block out unwanted views and add greenery all year round. When selecting the perfect privacy hedge, trees such as Syzygium australe, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Green Pillar', and Waterhousia floribunda stand out as refined choices. This guide provides a comprehensive look at how to plant and care for these private trees, helping you achieve a lush, thriving garden.

Planting Tips for Privacy Trees

When choosing to plant privacy trees, remember that their success begins with proper selection, placement, and care. Here’s how you can ensure your new trees flourish:

1. Choose the Right Location: Choose a spot with the right amount of sunlight and drainage. Privacy trees usually require full sun to partial shade.
2. Prepare the Soil: Ensure your soil is well-draining and rich in organic matter. If necessary, amend the soil with compost to improve its quality.
3. Planting Distance: Space your trees properly to allow for healthy growth. A good rule of thumb is to plant them at half their mature width apart.
4. Watering Routine: Newly planted trees need regular watering. Gradually reduce the watering frequency as the trees establish themselves.

1. Syzygium australe (Lilly Pilly)

The Syzygium australe, or Lilly Pilly, is a versatile and fast-growing evergreen tree known for its dense foliage and attractive red berries. It is a favored choice for privacy hedges due to its adaptability, lush greenery, and ability to be easily shaped. With its glossy leaves and ability to grow rapidly, this tree quickly forms a beautiful natural barrier, making it an ideal choice for luxury gardens.

 

 

Key Facts

• Mature Height: Up to 8 meters
• Mature Width: 2-4 meters
• Best Uses: Screening, hedging, and windbreaks
• Leaf Appearance: Glossy, oval-shaped leaves that shift from reddish bronze to green as they mature
• Rate of Growth: Fast
• Tolerates: Coastal conditions, light frosts, and pruning

Why It’s Perfect for Your Garden

The Syzygium australe is perfect for creating a dense, tall hedge with excellent privacy and noise reduction. Its quick growth rate and ability to tolerate various conditions mean it requires minimal upkeep, making it ideal for those seeking both beauty and ease. The tree's lush foliage adds an extra layer of elegance to your garden, while the occasional appearance of small white flowers and red berries adds seasonal interest. Regular trimming keeps the hedge neat and tailored to your desired shape, enhancing the refined look of your garden.

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Green Pillar'

The Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Green Pillar', is an elegant choice for creating sophisticated privacy hedges. This evergreen tree is known for its beautiful, small, dark-green leaves with wavy edges and silver undersides. It thrives in various climates and responds well to pruning, making it a favorite for high-end garden designs. Its soft, dense foliage forms an effective screen while allowing creative shaping.

 

 

Key Facts

• Mature Height (meters): 3-4 meters

• Mature Width: 0.5-1 meter
• Spacing: 0.5-1 meter
• Foliage: The leaves of the 'Green Pillar' Pittosporum are small, glossy, and deep green in color. They have a slightly serrated edge and are arranged in a dense, upright columnar form.
• Flowering Period: Late spring to early summer
• Form/Habit: Narrow, columnar form
• Uses: Hedging and Screening
• Tolerates: The 'Green Pillar' Pittosporum is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. It can tolerate full sun to part shade and is tolerant of both drought and salt spray. It is also resistant to pests and diseases.
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance plant that requires minimal care. It should be watered regularly during its first year of growth to establish a strong root system. Afterward, it can withstand moderate periods of drought. Pruning is not necessary, but it can be pruned to maintain its shape and size.
• Water Requirement: Regular watering during the first year of growth, moderate drought tolerance thereafter.

Why It’s Perfect for Your Garden

With its lush foliage and easy maintenance, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Green Pillar' adds a touch of luxury to any garden. Its dense growth makes it an exceptional choice for privacy hedging, providing a natural screen that’s both beautiful and functional. The tree’s adaptability to different environments allows it to thrive in various garden settings, from urban landscapes to expansive properties. Its foliage responds beautifully to pruning, enabling you to create a well-manicured, high-end look that matches your garden’s aesthetics.

3. Waterhousia floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Known for its graceful, weeping branches and lush foliage, the Waterhousia floribunda is another excellent option for privacy hedging. This evergreen tree features long, narrow leaves that are rich green and slightly glossy, providing a soft appearance when shaped into a hedge. As it matures, it develops a beautiful, cascading growth habit that adds a subtle elegance to your garden.

 

 

Key Facts

• Mature Height: 10-20 meters
• Mature Width: 4-6 meters
• Best Uses: Tall privacy screens, windbreaks, and ornamental tree planting
• Leaf Appearance: Narrow, elongated leaves with a slightly weeping habit
• Rate of Growth: Fast
• Tolerates: Humid conditions, pruning, and light frost

Why It’s Perfect for Your Garden

The Waterhousia floribunda is an ideal choice for those who seek a natural and flowing hedge that still offers privacy. Its cascading growth and rich foliage add a sophisticated touch to any landscape, creating a serene and private atmosphere. Despite its luxurious appearance, this tree is surprisingly low-maintenance, tolerating regular pruning to maintain the desired shape and size. The weeping form of the foliage adds a unique textural element to your garden design, making it stand out as a stunning focal point.

Planting Guide for Privacy Trees

To ensure your privacy trees establish well and thrive, follow these steps:

1. Site Preparation

• Soil Type: Choose well-drained soil rich in organic matter. If the soil is heavy clay or sandy, amend it with compost before planting.
• Sunlight: Ensure your chosen spot gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

2. Digging the Planting Hole

• Depth and Width: Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball of the tree.
• Root Ball Preparation: Gently tease out the roots before placing the tree in the hole to encourage outward growth.

3. Planting the Tree

• Positioning: Place the tree in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
• Backfill with Soil: Gently fill the hole with soil, pressing down lightly to remove air pockets.
• Water Thoroughly: Water the newly planted tree deeply to help it settle in.

Caring for Your Privacy Trees

Proper care ensures your privacy trees stay healthy and lush.

1. Watering

• Newly Planted Trees: Water deeply once a week during the first year.
• Established Trees: Reduce watering frequency but ensure the trees are not left to dry out.

2. Mulching

• Benefits: Mulching retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and protects the roots.
• Application: Apply a 5-7 cm layer of organic mulch around the tree’s base, leaving a small gap around the trunk.

3. Pruning

• Frequency: Prune privacy trees at least twice a year to maintain shape.
• Method: Trim lightly to encourage bushier growth and avoid cutting into old wood.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How fast do privacy trees grow?
   Growth rates vary by species. Syzygium australe and Waterhousia floribunda are fast growers, while Pittosporum tenuifolium has a moderate to rapid growth rate.
2. What is the best time to plant privacy trees?
   Late autumn to early spring is ideal, allowing roots to establish before summer.
3. How far apart should I plant privacy trees?
   Spacing depends on the mature width. Planting at half the mature width is recommended to allow growth without overcrowding.

Planting and maintaining privacy trees like Syzygium australe, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Green Pillar', and Waterhousia floribunda will help you achieve a luxurious, private garden space that exudes elegance and tranquility. Following these planting and care tips, you can create a vibrant, thriving hedge that complements your high-end lifestyle while providing year-round beauty and seclusion.