Privacy is one of the top concerns for North Jersey homeowners when designing a backyard space. Whether you’re relaxing on your patio, swimming in your pool, or entertaining friends, having a natural green barrier offers peace, quiet, and visual separation from neighbors. That’s where privacy trees come in.
At RVG Landscape Design, we’re often asked: “What are the best privacy trees for my backyard in Bergen County?” In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the top options, how to choose the right ones, and everything you need to know to create a private oasis in towns like Ridgewood, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, and beyond.
Why Homeowners Choose Privacy Trees
Privacy trees aren’t just about blocking views. They bring beauty, seasonal color, noise reduction, and structure to your landscape. Compared to fences, trees offer a softer, more natural look—and they often last longer with less maintenance. For many Bergen County homeowners, a row of evergreen privacy trees transforms a wide-open lawn into a cozy, enclosed backyard retreat.
Privacy trees also boost property value. Homebuyers love the idea of move-in ready seclusion, especially in neighborhoods where houses sit close together. Whether you’re screening a pool area, creating a windbreak, or softening a fence line, adding privacy trees is one of the most impactful landscape upgrades you can make.
What to Ask Before Choosing Privacy Trees
Choosing the right privacy trees for your yard starts with asking the right questions:
How tall do you want the trees to grow? Some privacy trees top out at 10 feet, while others shoot up to 30–40 feet or more.
How much space do you have? Tight spaces may require columnar or narrow-growing trees.
Do you want evergreen privacy year-round or seasonal screening? Evergreens like Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress keep their foliage all winter. Deciduous trees like hornbeam lose their leaves in winter.
Is your yard sunny or shady? Light conditions play a big role in choosing species that will thrive.
Do deer visit your yard? Bergen County is notorious for deer pressure. Some privacy trees are more deer-resistant than others.
By answering these upfront, we can help you pick privacy trees that will thrive long-term in your space.
Top 5 Privacy Trees for Bergen County, NJ
1. Green Giant Arborvitae
This is one of the most popular privacy trees in Northern New Jersey—and for good reason. Green Giant Arborvitaes are fast-growing (3+ feet per year), tall (up to 30–40 feet), and stay dense year-round. They’re resistant to deer, drought-tolerant once established, and great for planting in a row.
We recommend spacing them 5–7 feet apart for a thick screen. With proper care, they create a lush green wall within 3–5 years. If you’re looking for fast, evergreen privacy trees in Bergen County, this is a top choice.
2. Skip Laurel (Cherry Laurel)
Skip Laurels offer glossy green leaves, white spring flowers, and dense branching. They grow 10–18 feet tall and are ideal for tighter spaces. While not as fast-growing as Green Giants, they tolerate pruning well and create a beautiful hedge.
Skip Laurels are evergreen, semi-deer resistant, and do well in part shade. They’re a favorite in towns like Glen Rock and Montclair where lot lines are narrow.
3. American Holly
For a classic, formal look, American Holly offers rich green foliage with bright red berries in winter. This native evergreen is dense, slow-growing, and offers year-round privacy with a touch of holiday flair. It’s ideal for foundation screening or mixing into more naturalistic hedges.
American Holly does well in sun to part shade and is fairly deer-resistant. Pair it with other privacy trees for a layered effect.
4. Norway Spruce
Need privacy fast? Norway Spruce is a fast-growing evergreen that handles cold weather, wind, and poor soil like a champ. It reaches heights of 40–60 feet and forms a dense screen if planted 8–12 feet apart.
This is a great choice for long property lines or open yards in towns like Franklin Lakes or Mahwah. Just make sure you have room—it gets big!
5. Hornbeam (Fastigiate Form)
If you prefer a more architectural or formal look, Fastigiate Hornbeam is a fantastic deciduous option. While it loses its leaves in winter, it holds onto brown foliage for much of the season, providing year-round interest and partial screening.
Hornbeam can be tightly pruned into a hedge and grows well in urban or suburban settings. It’s highly deer-resistant and excellent along property lines or as a backdrop to a garden.
How We Design with Privacy Trees
At RVG Landscape Design, we don’t just plant trees—we create intentional privacy screens that match your space and style. Our design process includes:
Site Analysis: We evaluate light, soil, drainage, views, and deer activity.
Spacing Plans: We calculate how far apart to plant your privacy trees for optimal coverage.
Mixing Species: Sometimes we layer trees (e.g., Green Giant + American Holly) to create visual texture and multi-season coverage.
3D Designs: We offer digital renderings to help you visualize how your privacy trees will grow over time.
Every yard is different, so we customize our approach to suit your property lines, home architecture, and privacy goals.
How to Care for Your Privacy Trees After Planting
Installing privacy trees is just the first step. To keep them thriving, here’s what we recommend:
Water deeply and regularly for the first 1–2 years
Mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate temperature
Prune strategically to shape and encourage density
Fertilize in spring to support healthy growth
Protect from deer with sprays or fencing where needed
We also offer seasonal maintenance services and touch-up planting if gaps appear.
Privacy Trees vs. Fencing: What’s the Better Investment?
Many homeowners ask: should I install a fence or plant privacy trees? Fencing offers immediate coverage but may be restricted by local zoning height limits (often 6 feet). It also lacks the natural beauty and environmental benefits of trees.
Privacy trees, on the other hand, grow over time but offer more height (20–30+ feet), better sound buffering, and ecological value. They’re also preferred by many HOAs or towns with fence restrictions.
In most cases, a combination of low fencing and privacy trees delivers the best results: security + beauty.
Where We Plant Privacy Trees in Bergen County
We’ve installed privacy trees in towns all over Northern NJ, including:
Ridgewood
Franklin Lakes
Wyckoff
Glen Rock
Mahwah
Saddle River
Montvale
Paramus
Whether you need to block a neighbor’s deck, screen a pool, or line a long driveway, we’ve got tree solutions that thrive in your zone.
Budgeting for Privacy Trees in New Jersey
One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners is, “How much do privacy trees cost?” The answer depends on several factors—such as the type of tree you choose, the size of the trees at planting, how many you need, and whether professional installation is involved. In general, privacy tree projects in Bergen County can range anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 or more depending on the length of the area being screened and the species selected.
Green Giant Arborvitae, for example, is one of the most budget-friendly and fast-growing options. Smaller starter trees might cost $60–$100 each, while larger, more mature trees could be $250 or more per tree. When you add in soil preparation, delivery, spacing layout, digging, planting, mulching, and optional deer protection, the cost of installation adds up—but it’s well worth the investment. A professionally installed privacy tree line not only increases the usability of your backyard but also boosts curb appeal and property value.
For tighter spaces or ornamental species like Skip Laurels or American Holly, the initial tree cost may be slightly higher, but these selections offer added design value and flexibility. We work closely with our clients to find the right balance between budget, appearance, and long-term success. And because trees are living, growing elements, the value continues to increase year after year as your landscape matures.
Planting Privacy Trees with RVG Landscape Design
When you choose RVG Landscape Design to install your privacy trees, you’re not just getting plants in the ground — you’re getting a complete, professional experience from consultation to clean-up. We take pride in delivering a seamless process that ensures your investment thrives from day one.
It all begins with an on-site consultation, where we evaluate your property’s sunlight, soil conditions, grading, water drainage, and existing landscape elements. We take into account your privacy goals, your home’s architecture, and your preferred tree types to create a custom planting plan tailored to your yard.
Next, we prepare the planting area with the care it deserves. That means digging precise holes for each tree, amending the soil with compost or nutrients where needed, and making sure each tree sits at the right depth to avoid future rot or stress. We also apply premium mulch around each base to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Our crew is trained to space each tree properly — whether we’re planting Green Giant Arborvitae in a tight row or layering in laurels, holly, or hornbeam for a mixed-screen effect. We use straight lines, staggered layouts, or curved natural shapes depending on the project design.
After installation, we water each tree deeply and provide instructions (and services, if requested) for ongoing care. We can also install deer protection, offer 3D design previews before work begins, and schedule seasonal maintenance to keep your privacy trees healthy and growing strong.
We don’t cut corners, and we don’t just “drop and go.” When you work with RVG, you’re getting decades of local experience, reliable communication, and the same attention to detail we’d use in our own backyards.
Schedule Your Privacy Tree Consultation Today
If you’ve been searching for the best privacy trees in Bergen County, RVG Landscape Design is here to help. We’ll assess your property, recommend the right species, and install them professionally for long-term success.
Call us today to schedule your on-site consultation and start building the outdoor privacy you’ve been dreaming of.
📞 973-836-1508
🌐 www.rvglandscaping.com
📍 Serving homeowners across Bergen, Passaic, Essex, and Morris counties
Additional Services We Offer
At RVG Landscape Design, privacy trees are just one part of what we do. We offer complete outdoor living solutions to help you transform your entire property. Our team specializes in designing and installing patios, outdoor kitchens, retaining walls, walkways, custom steps, and low-voltage landscape lighting. We also provide 3D design previews, drainage solutions, and full planting services to bring beauty and function to every corner of your yard. Whether you’re in Ridgewood, Wyckoff, or Franklin Lakes, RVG is your trusted partner for high-end landscape and hardscape construction.
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