Privacy trees: 3 questions you should answer before you start digging

The addition of privacy trees is a great way to add definition and diversity to your yard, with the further benefit of increasing home value. There is a great selection of trees you can choose from according to taste, maintenance preferences, and budget. It’s an easy process to install privacy trees yourself but it does take planning. Here are just a few considerations you should examine before you break ground. 

1. How much time do you have?   If the answer is not much, you can consider hiring a landscape contractor, but it will cost you. And really, how boring is that? As an alternative, most nurseries can deliver larger plants to your residence. You can rent your own backhoe and excavator and plant the trees yourself in an afternoon- for a fraction of the cost.

Mature Douglas Fir

2. How much yard space are you willing to sacrifice?  The size of your yard will have significant bearing on the type of trees you should chose. Those with smaller yards should keep their privacy trees smaller in proportion to their yard.  A mature Emerald Green Arborvitae will have a modest width of 2-3 ft, but you can expect the width of a Laurel of the same height to be at least five times that. Those with more spacious outdoor dwellings have more freedom to erect the regal size trees of their choice (the Douglas Fir, for example).

3. How much money are you willing to spend?   Trees come in all shapes and sizes... and costs. The most cost effective trees will be the ones that take the least time grow, i.e. reach mature height. If you are planning a project with the future in mind, you can opt for the less mature saplings at a cheaper cost. If you are looking to spruce up your yard before an open house (pun intended), in which case spending more will lead to a greater payoff, consider the Excelsa Cedar. This cedar is already full in body at half maturity (12-14ft) with a sharp growth rate.

When it does come time to start digging, you'll need to figure out what you'll be digging with. Renting equipment for your tree installation is the easiest, most cost efficient way to complete your project. You can visit Compact Power Equipment Rental at your local Home Depot where they will load and attach everything for you, all you need is the trailer hitch. For pricing on backhoes and excavators, see the Compact Power Equipment Rental website and calculate your final project budget.

References

http://www.nurserytrees.com/instant%20privacy--selecting%20the%20right%20tree.htm