Privacy trees are something that most homeowners have thought about at one time or another. If you live in a wooded area, deer-resistant privacy trees may be an absolute necessity. You’ve likely caught deer munching on your plants at one time or another.
If your local deer are degrading your privacy trees while also feasting on your plants, you have more than one problem. We’ve compiled a list of the best deer-resistant privacy trees for your yard to remedy this problem. They include the Thuja green giant, the American boxwood, and the lovely Japanese plum yew.
Thuja Green Giant
The Thuja green giant, also known as the Thuja green giant arborvitae, is a sizeable deer-resistant tree that’s well-suited for blocking the road or your neighbor’s yard. They are also pest and disease resistant and grow more than five feet per year. So even if you start with a small tree, you’ll have a towering privacy tree that’s easy to maintain before long.
They grow to between 40-60 feet in height and have a maximum width of 15 feet. The best zones for growing these trees are 5-9.
American Boxwood
The American boxwood plant is a classic privacy tree that’s sure to transform your yard and is resistant to any annoying munching by local deer. It grows to a width of around 8 feet and a height of up to 12 feet, making it a shorter, wider tree than others on this list. You’re sure to get this plant to thrive in zones 5-9.
Amazingly, the tree will continue to grow for up to 150 years after you plant it!
Japanese Plum Yew
The lovely Japanese plum yew, or Cephalotaxus harringtonia, has exotic-looking leaves that will add some variety to your yard while also serving as a deer-resistant privacy tree. You should plant this specific plant with the thought that it will grow to up to 8 feet in height and 10 feet in width. It’s also very popular for gardeners hoping to make every part of their garden interesting and filled with beautiful greenery.
Wax Myrtle
The wax myrtle is a medium-sized privacy tree that’s very fast-growing. In only a few years, you can expect this tree to cover the area you intend for it. It reaches around 15-20 feet and can grow to a width of 10 feet. They are also very hardy, capable of enduring different temperatures.
Colorado Blue Spruce
The Colorado blue spruce has a silver-green color that is very popular with those seeking out trees to add some privacy to their yard. Its peak height can reach an incredible 75 feet, and up to 20 feet spread. It grows best in various zones, from 2-7. The trees enjoy full sun, making them a great addition to your yard’s brightest, open spaces.
Mugo Pine
The Mugo pine tree from central Europe is an ornamental tree that is well-loved for its broad-spreading leaves. It grows in zones 3-7 and up to 20 feet in height. The tree grows much more slowly than other plants on this list, around 12” a year. The mugo pine is best in a partially shaded area of your yard with well-drained soil.
Cedar Deodar
The cedar deodar is a long-lived, fast-growing tree that homeowners use to increase their yard’s privacy. It is also a very durable tree, capable of adapting to different soil types. It’s also drought tolerant and is capable of recovering from long winters and heavy storms.
Howardi Ligustrum
The howardi ligustrum is an evergreen bush that, with its bright yellow and green colors, adds a pop of excitement among other, less colorful, privacy trees. It’s a dense shrub that easily fills gaps in the garden. The leaves are yellow at first, and as they plant ages, it takes on a greener shade.
In Conclusion
No matter where you live, there are deer-resistant privacy trees that suit your yard and environment. Many are incredibly hardy, capable of withstanding high and low temperatures and even heavy storm damage.
These trees, like the mugo pine and wax myrtle, live for many years and are entirely deer resistant, meaning you won’t have to worry about your pesky woodland neighbors eating away your privacy over the years.