Looking to block out a neighbor’s window, cut street noise, or just enjoy more peace in your backyard? Planting a natural privacy barrier is one of the best ways to add value and beauty to your Seattle home. The right trees and shrubs can grow quickly, stay green year-round, and give you a living fence that only gets better with time.
Here are some of the top choices for privacy in the Pacific Northwest — with details on how fast they grow, how big they get, and how far apart to plant them.
🌲 Thuja Green Giant
- Growth Rate: Fast (2–3 feet per year once established).
- Mature Size: 30–40 feet tall, 12–18 feet wide.
- Spacing: Plant 5–8 feet apart for a solid hedge.
- Why Seattle Homeowners Love It: Handles our wet winters and dry summers well. A great pick if you want a tall screen in just a few years.
🌲 Leyland Cypress
- Growth Rate: Very fast (up to 3–4 feet per year).
- Mature Size: 40–60 feet tall, 15–20 feet wide.
- Spacing: 6–10 feet apart (they’ll quickly grow together).
- Seattle Tip: These need space, but if you’ve got a bigger lot, they’ll form a towering wall of green in no time.
🌲 Western Red Cedar (Native)
- Growth Rate: Moderate (1–2 feet per year).
- Mature Size: Can reach 50–70 feet tall, 15–25 feet wide.
- Spacing: 10–15 feet apart for windbreaks or privacy lines.
- Why Choose It: Native to Washington, long-lived, and blends naturally with the Pacific Northwest landscape.
🌿 Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
- Growth Rate: Fast (2–3 feet per year with pruning).
- Mature Size: 15–20 feet tall, 10–15 feet wide.
- Spacing: 4–6 feet apart for a dense hedge.
- Bonus: Dark glossy leaves and a neat, formal look — great for smaller Seattle lots where space is limited.
🌿 English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ or ‘Otto Luyken’)
- Growth Rate: Fast (2 feet per year).
- Mature Size: 10–20 feet tall depending on the variety.
- Spacing: 3–5 feet apart.
- Note: Lush and green all year but can spread wide, so pruning once or twice a year keeps it tidy.
🌿 Photinia Red Tip
- Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1–2 feet per year).
- Mature Size: 10–15 feet tall, 8–12 feet wide.
- Spacing: 4–6 feet apart.
- Highlight: Striking red new growth each spring makes this hedge both beautiful and functional.
🎋 Clumping Bamboo (Fargesia)
- Growth Rate: Moderate (1–2 feet per year).
- Mature Size: 8–15 feet tall depending on the variety.
- Spacing: 3–5 feet apart for a wall effect.
- Seattle Advantage: Unlike running bamboo, Fargesia won’t take over your yard. Perfect for tight urban backyards or modern garden designs.
Planting & Care Tips for Seattle
- Watering: Young trees need consistent watering for the first two summers. After that, most will thrive on rainfall alone.
- Soil: Seattle’s clay soils benefit from added compost for drainage.
- Mulching: A 2–3 inch layer of mulch helps hold moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pruning: Most hedge plants (laurels, photinia) respond well to regular trimming, which encourages dense growth.
Final Word
If you need quick privacy, go for Thuja Green Giant or Leyland Cypress.
If you want a lush formal hedge, choose Portuguese or English Laurel.
For a natural Northwest look, plant Western Red Cedar.
And if you like something unique and modern, try clumping bamboo.
With the right choice and spacing, your living fence will fill in within a few years — giving you privacy, beauty, and a property value boost that lasts for decades.
