Fastest Privacy Hedges for Close North Shore Lots

Why Speed and Fit Matter for North Shore Privacy

Close lot lines are part of life on the North Shore. When your patio is a few steps from a neighbor’s kitchen window, you want a living screen that goes in fast, fits tight spaces, and looks great all year. That is where fast growing privacy trees and narrow hedges shine. In our climate and soil, the right plants can add eight to ten feet of soft green cover in just a few seasons. The wrong choice can leave gaps, winter burn, and headaches. This guide breaks down the fastest hedges for our area, how to space them on smaller lots, and the best ways to keep them thriving. If you want help turning a plan into reality, Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery can design, deliver, and install a privacy hedge that fits your yard and your timeline.

Home garden landscape – a green lawn and a big hedge on a blue sky background.

Home garden landscape - a green lawn and a big hedge on a blue sky background.

Top Fast Growing Privacy Trees and Hedges for the North Shore

The North Shore sits in USDA zones 5 and 5b with lake winds, heavy clay soils in many neighborhoods, and winter salt near driveways and streets. These realities shape what grows fast and stays healthy. Below are time tested picks our crews use to build quick, durable screens in communities like Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Lake Forest, and Northbrook.

Green Giant Arborvitae

Green Giant arborvitae is a favorite for speed and height. In good soil with consistent water it can grow 2 to 3 feet a year after it is established. It keeps a rich green color through winter and handles wind better than many arborvitae. It is also more deer resistant than Emerald Green, though protection is still smart in high pressure areas. For tight lots, we often plant a single row 6 to 8 feet on center. For an instant look, a staggered double row at 8 feet centers creates a dense wall within two seasons. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery sources field grown specimens for a fuller look from day one.

Techny Arborvitae

Techny is a hardy North Shore classic. It grows 12 to 24 inches a year, fills in thick from top to bottom, and holds a dark green color that contrasts nicely with lighter turf and stone. It tolerates cold wind, which matters near the lake. On narrow lots, Techny works well at 3 to 4 feet on center. It is one of our top choices when clients want a formal hedge that clips clean and stays uniform with light pruning.

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Emerald Green brings a tidy, columnar shape that stays narrower than Green Giant or Techny. Expect 8 to 12 inches of growth per year. While not the fastest, it fits very close lot lines and smaller side yards. Spacing at 2.5 to 3 feet on center creates a tight green screen that looks manicured with minimal effort. Emerald Green is a deer favorite, so plan on protection if browsing is common in your neighborhood.

Norway Spruce

Norway spruce is a strong, reliable evergreen that often pushes 18 to 24 inches per year once established. Its layered branches and deep green needles make a handsome, natural looking screen. For a hedge, plant 8 to 10 feet apart on center. If space allows, a zigzag pattern improves coverage and wind flow. Spruce tends to be more deer resistant than arborvitae, and it tolerates clay soils well with proper planting.

Serbian Spruce

Serbian spruce has an elegant, slightly arching habit and a somewhat narrower profile than Norway spruce. Growth is moderate to fast, roughly 12 to 18 inches per year, but it shines on tight lots due to its refined look and slimmer footprint. We use it to soften property lines without overpowering smaller gardens.

American Pillar Arborvitae

American Pillar is a newer columnar arborvitae bred for speed and a very narrow habit. It often puts on 2 to 3 feet per year after establishment and stays just a few feet wide. That makes it a strong option where space is at a premium or near patios that need a quick vertical screen without a large bed.

Yew Hedges for Shade

Hicks yew and similar forms do not win the speed race, but they are reliable in shade where many evergreens thin out. Expect 8 to 12 inches per year. For side yards with mature trees, yews can create a dense, rich green hedge that clips well and stays neat with one trim a year. Space 2.5 to 3 feet on center for a tight hedge.

Hybrid Willow Screens

Hybrid willows grow very fast, often 5 to 10 feet per year, and can create near instant cover. The tradeoff is higher maintenance and shorter life compared to conifers. They can be a short term fix while slower evergreens fill in. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery often uses a layered approach with willows at the back and a spruce or arborvitae row in front that becomes the permanent screen.

Which Hedge Fits Your Lot and Lifestyle

Your best choice depends on how much width you can give the hedge, how fast you want full privacy, and the light and wind patterns on your property. It also depends on deer pressure and salt exposure from roads or driveways. Our team at Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery weighs all these factors on site to pick the right plant and spacing plan.

Quick Selector Guide

Narrowest footprint with fast height: American Pillar arborvitae or Emerald Green arborvitae
Fast and tall with natural look: Green Giant arborvitae or Norway spruce
Durable, formal hedge look: Techny arborvitae
Shade tolerant hedge: Hicks yew
Lower deer pressure areas: Most arborvitae types
Higher deer pressure areas: Norway spruce or Serbian spruce

Smart Spacing for Close North Shore Lots

Good spacing is the secret to a fast, healthy hedge. Too tight can trap moisture and invite disease. Too wide leaves you staring through gaps. Below are center to center spacing targets we use often on close lots.

Recommended Spacing

Green Giant arborvitae: 6 to 8 feet single row, 8 feet each way in a staggered double row
Techny arborvitae: 3 to 4 feet single row for a solid hedge
Emerald Green arborvitae: 2.5 to 3 feet single row
American Pillar arborvitae: 3 feet single row
Norway spruce: 8 to 10 feet single row, 10 feet each way staggered for faster coverage
Serbian spruce: 7 to 9 feet single row
Hicks yew: 2.5 to 3 feet single row

When to Use a Staggered Double Row

On wider side yards or back property lines, a staggered double row speeds coverage without cramming plants. Place the second row 3 to 5 feet behind the first. Offset each plant to sit in the gap between the front row plants. This triangular pattern closes sightlines quickly and improves airflow.

Planting and Care for Fast Results

Fast growing privacy trees reach their potential when planting and care are tight. Our crews prepare the site for drainage, set correct depth, and water thoroughly, which prevents early setbacks. Here is a simple plan you can follow, or ask Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery to handle each step.

Soil Prep and Planting

Call to locate utilities before digging.
Loosen a wide planting area and blend in compost to improve drainage in clay soils.
Set root balls so the trunk flare sits slightly above the surrounding grade.
Backfill with native soil and compost, then create a shallow mulch ring.
Water deeply to settle soil and remove air pockets.

Watering Schedule

Weeks 1 to 4: Water every 2 to 3 days in the absence of rain.
Months 2 to 6: Water once or twice a week, aiming for 1 to 1.5 inches total weekly moisture.
Year 2 and beyond: Deep soak during dry spells. Drip lines or soaker hoses are ideal.

Mulch and Fertilizer

Apply 2 to 3 inches of shredded hardwood mulch, keeping it a couple of inches away from trunks. Mulch conserves moisture and moderates soil temperature. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizer in the first season. In year two, use a balanced slow release formula based on a soil test. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery can test and tailor a nutrient plan so your hedge grows fast without weak, leggy growth.

Pruning and Shaping

Shear formal hedges like Techny lightly once new growth hardens in mid to late summer. Keep the top a bit narrower than the base so light reaches lower branches. For spruces and Green Giant, rely on selective thinning and leader training rather than heavy shearing. This keeps a natural look and strong structure.

Winter Protection

In exposed sites near the lake or along salted roads, wrap young arborvitae with burlap for the first winter and use antidesiccant sprays if needed. Spruces usually need less protection but still benefit from late fall deep watering before the ground freezes.

How Fast You Will See Privacy

Results depend on plant size at installation, weather, and care. Here is a realistic timeline we see across North Shore projects when we install landscape grade material.

End of planting day: 40 to 70 percent privacy depending on plant size and spacing
End of first growing season: noticeable thickening and a softer, greener backdrop
Year two: most hedges knit together with few gaps left
Year three: full privacy at typical patio sitting height and near complete screening at 8 to 10 feet

Want a near instant look before growth kicks in? Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery can install larger balled and burlapped trees, set them in a staggered layout, and supplement with strategic grasses or evergreen shrubs for immediate coverage.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Planting too deep. Burying the trunk flare leads to decline and slower growth.
Overcrowding. Tight spacing seems faster but increases disease risk and trimming chores.
Ignoring deer. Protect vulnerable types like Emerald Green in high deer zones.
Underwatering the first season. New roots need steady moisture to establish.
Using the wrong plant for sun or shade. Yews handle shade. Most arborvitae and spruces want at least half a day of sun.
Skipping wind and salt checks. Choose tougher species like Norway spruce in harsh exposures.

Layered Screening for Style and Speed

A single hedge does the job, but a layered screen can look better and work faster on many North Shore properties. Start with a fast evergreen backbone like Green Giant or Norway spruce. In front, weave in four season shrubs like boxwood, viburnum, or upright junipers to break up sightlines at eye level. Add ornamental grasses near patios for movement and soft sound. This blend delivers privacy, curb appeal, and habitat for songbirds. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery designs these layers to match your home’s architecture and your yard’s scale.

Seasonal Planting Windows

In our climate, spring and early fall are the best times to plant fast growing privacy trees. Spring gives a full season to root in. Early fall offers cool air and warm soil, which drives root growth. Summer plantings can succeed with extra watering and mulch. Our crews install from early spring through late fall and time each step for plant health and fast establishment.

Permits, Easements, and Neighborly Details

Before you plant, check local rules for height limits near streets and front yards. Confirm property lines and watch for utility and drainage easements. On tight lots, it is courteous to let neighbors know your plan. A well placed hedge improves privacy on both sides and can even reduce street noise. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery can help with survey reviews and set backs so your hedge goes in the right place.

Why Homeowners Choose Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery

Since 1966, Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery has helped North Shore homeowners turn close lots into private, welcoming spaces. What started with a single truck and a strong work ethic has grown into a family led team with nursery fields in Wadsworth and a full service design and installation crew in Long Grove. That history matters. It means we know which plants thrive in our soils, how to stage a hedge on a narrow side yard, and how to deliver fast results without cutting corners. We grow and source premium trees, set them right, and stand behind the work.

What to Expect From a Hedge Consultation

On site walk through. We map sightlines, sun and shade, wind, and access.
Plant recommendations. You get two to three clear options with honest timelines and budgets.
Spacing and layout plan. We show exact centers and any staggered rows or curves.
Installation. Our crews handle delivery, planting, staking if needed, and clean up.
Care plan. You get a simple watering and pruning guide, with seasonal service options.

The result is a screen that feels right from day one and looks even better each season. If you want fast growing privacy trees for a close North Shore lot, Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery can make it happen.

Sample Hedge Pairings That Work

Ultra narrow side yard: American Pillar arborvitae at 3 feet on center with boxwood at the base
Windy lake exposure: Norway spruce at 9 feet on center with switchgrass and inkberry to soften the edge
Formal backyard edge: Techny arborvitae at 3.5 feet on center, clipped once a year for a crisp line
Shade along a fence: Hicks yew at 3 feet on center with hydrangea in the sunny openings
Quick cover with long term structure: Rear row hybrid willow for the first two years, front row Green Giant that becomes the permanent screen

Ready to Transform Your Yard

Fast growing privacy trees can change how your outdoor space feels in a single season. Sit outside without the feeling of being on display. Enjoy a greener, quieter backdrop from your kitchen window. If you live on the North Shore and want a hedge that fits a close lot and grows fast, start with a simple consultation. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery will recommend the fastest hedges, the right spacing, and a planting plan that succeeds. Transform your yard today and book a consult now.

Fast growing privacy trees for close North Shore lots are our specialty. Discover the fastest hedges, practical spacing tips, and the best picks for your site. When you are ready for expert help from a trusted local team, reach out to Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery to schedule your visit.