Natural Fence Ideas

Chinese Abelia

• Chinese abelia trees are semi-evergreen trees that have a moderate to fast growth rate. They grow upright and have a rounded form. The Chinese abelia grows between 5- feet and 7-feet tall and spread between 4- and 6-feet wide. The tree's foliage is deep green with serrated edges and can be up to 1 1/2 inches long. It produces clusters of small white, fragrant flowers in July that last until September. These trees grow best in full sun to partial shade and in moist, well-drained soil. Plant Chinese abelia trees in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 9.

Bottlebrush Buckeye

• The bottlebrush buckeye is a shrub that grows 8- to 12-feet tall and spreads up to 15-feet wide, so this plant is ideal when you want to create a large fence. This large shrub produces white flowers shaped like tubes with red to pink anthers that extend out of the petals. As the name implies, the bush produces buckeyes in the fall after the flowers go away. Plant your bottlebrush buckeye plants where they will receive full sun to partial shade and in moist, fertile soil. These shrubs are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8.

Japanese Yew

• This small evergreen tree looks like a shrub and can reach up to 30-feet tall and 20-feet wide. Japanese yews are a good choice when you want to plant a screen in an area that is shielded by a larger tree or a building because they thrive in full shade. It is also a good option when you want to create a fence to completely block a view because its thick foliage begins about a foot off the ground and extends to the top of the tree. Plant your Japanese yew in moist, fertile soil. This tree is hardy in USDA zone 4.

Forsythia

• Choose forsythia when you want a natural fence that will provide a splash of color to your landscape. In the spring, bright yellow forsythia flowers appear all over the tree's long, weeping branches so that the tree looks bright yellow. The green leaves appear after the flowers. This tree can grow from 8- to 10-feet tall and 4- to 5-feet wide. Forsythia trees can handle either full sun or partial shade and grow best in well-drained soil. These trees are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8.