I’ve been using evergreens in container gardens since the very beginning. The approach is practical, saves money over time, and offers multiple seasons of enjoyment. I can’t imagine a DIY-er or client who wouldn’t LOVE getting these benefits from their container gardens.
Creating privacy and seclusion in your outdoor living spaces is easier than you might think thanks to evergreen trees in pots. These container-grown evergreens allow you to establish beautiful natural screens that enhance privacy anywhere, even in small spaces or rental properties where permanent in-ground plantings aren’t possible.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain why potted evergreen trees are ideal for screening, recommend the best varieties to choose, provide design tips for incorporating them, and share proper care instructions so your evergreens thrive. Let’s explore the wonderful world of evergreen container trees and how they can help you regain solitude in your own backyard oasis!
Why Choose Evergreen Trees in Pots for Privacy Screens?
Potted evergreens offer many advantages over other screening options like fences or trellises when creating secluded spaces
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Portability Containerized trees aren’t permanently planted, so you can reposition them anytime to block changing viewlines. Great for renters!
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Instant Impact: Established evergreens in pots provide dense foliage right away unlike slower growing deciduous trees. Enjoy immediate screening effects.
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Lower Maintenance: Contained roots prevent spreading or invasiveness issues. Evergreen trees in pots also don’t drop leaves in fall.
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Safety: Potted evergreens won’t blow over in storms like privacy screens and trellises can. They’re secure.
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Curb Appeal: Evergreens in nice planters have far more visual appeal than basic fences or lattice barriers. They add natural ambience.
Best Evergreen Varieties for Screening Containers
Certain evergreen species are better choices for growing successfully in pots:
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Dwarf Alberta Spruce: Classic pyramid-shaped evergreen with dense green needles. Grows 10 feet tall in pots.
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Japanese Maple: Graceful red lacy foliage filters views. Max height 8 feet in containers. Prefers partial shade.
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Bay Laurel: Glossy green leaves have great aroma. Responds well to pruning for shaping. Needs full sun.
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Olive Tree: Lovely silver-green foliage and Mediterranean vibe. Some produce edible fruits. Requires full sun.
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Emerald Arborvitae: Fast growing bright green evergreen quickly reaches 15 feet tall. Tolerates partial shade.
Design Tips for Evergreen Privacy Trees in Pots
Follow these guidelines when incorporating potted evergreens into your landscape:
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Place trees strategically to block unwanted views from patios, pools, and decks.
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Use uniform pots and tree varieties together for a cohesive, structured look.
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Mix heights and forms for a natural effect. Combine upright and mounding trees.
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Frame views instead of completely enclosing spaces. Avoid a boxed-in feel.
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Underplant trees with cascading annuals or perennials spilling from pots.
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Group planters on patios to divide open areas.
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Tuck potted evergreens into garden beds to hide boundaries.
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Line driveway or walkway edges with matching trees in containers for an elegant welcome.
Caring for Containerized Evergreen Screening Trees
Growing evergreens in pots requires some TLC. Follow these tips:
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Water regularly but don’t saturate soil. Allow drying between waterings.
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Apply slow-release fertilizer in spring to support new growth.
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Prune occasionally to maintain optimal shaping for privacy screens.
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Watch for pests like spider mites, scale, and aphids. Treat quickly.
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Repot every 2-3 years in early spring using fresh potting mix. Size up containers.
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Move pots into sheltered areas in winter or wrap with burlap in cold climates.
Best Species for Container Screens
Now that you’re inspired to use evergreen trees in pots to create privacy, let’s take a closer look at some top species well-suited for screening:
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
- Classic conical shape, 10-15 feet tall.
- Lush green needles retain color all year.
- Extremely hardy, tolerates various conditions.
- Grows well in containers.
Hicks Yew
- Broad, vase-shape grows 10-15 feet tall.
- Dense branches with dark green flattened needles.
- Tolerates diverse soils and light conditions.
- Excellent tall screening tree for containers.
Sky Pencil Japanese Holly
- Slender columnar form, slowly reaches 15 feet tall.
- Dense spiny green leaves and red berries for winter.
- Perfect structural evergreen for tight spaces.
Emerald Arborvitae
- Fast growing, pyramidal, matures 15-25 feet tall.
- Vibrant green color retention year-round.
- Thrives in various soils, sun exposure.
- Provides tall screening quickly after planting.
Dwarf Eastern Red Cedar
- Broad, spreading form, matures 4-6 feet tall and wide.
- Attractive bluish-green needle-like leaves.
- Tolerant, adaptable small evergreen tree.
- Creates full, wide screening hedge in pots.
Final Takeaway on Evergreen Screening Trees
Evergreen trees in containers are ideal for establishing private, intimate spaces in your landscape. Strategically position potted evergreens to block unwanted sights and sounds from encroaching on your outdoor living areas. Carefully select cold-hardy varieties suited to your climate that also thrive in containers. Caring for potted evergreens is straightforward when following basic best practices. With the right evergreen screening trees, you can cultivate a peaceful green sanctuary right in your own backyard.
Types of Evergreens for Container Gardens
The bottom line: you can incorporate almost any evergreen into a container garden. For the longest lasting options that won’t outgrow your pots too quickly, choose small, slow-growing, or dwarf varieties. Generally speaking, evergreens last 1-2 years before they need to be transplanted to a larger pot or to the ground. Variables such as the size of your pot, the specimen you use, and your growing environment will all impact this timeframe.
Evergreens are lumped into two main categories, coniferous and broad-leaved. I use both kinds, often mixed together. I love the way the needles of conifers stand out against the smooth surface of broad-leaved varieties, and vice versa!
Conifers bear cones and have needle-like leaves. While they may feel “Christmassy”, they can take on an entirely new vibe when surrounded with colorful flowers and lush foliage outside of the winter season. Most of the conifers I work with prefer at least partial (4-6 hours) if not full (6 hours or more) sun, which matches the light preference of many of the flowers I like to plant with them in spring and summer.
My go-to conifers for adding height to container gardens are Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Deodar Cedar, Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce, and Blue Point Juniper. For lower arrangements, I love the round dome habit of Globosa Nana Dwarf Japanese Cedar. Trailing Juniper is a nice, tough coniferous spiller.
When to Plant Evergreens in Containers
While you can install an evergreen almost any time of year in Zones 7 and higher (warmer), I prefer to plant them in containers in the Spring or the Fall, much like you would if you were planting them in the ground. This gives the roots time to get established and comfy before the heat of the Summer or the bitter cold of Winter. I find the selection of evergreens at retailers peaks in Spring and Fall, which also makes these the ideal times to shop for the perfect specimens for your pots.
If you live in a colder climate, Zone 6 and lower (cooler), do some research before experimenting with evergreens in winter containers. Read the plant tags and ask a pro at your local garden center for tips on winterizing. In the coldest regions, they may recommend you wrap your pots in burlap for extra insulation from the snow and wind. It really depends greatly from region to region, and from plant to plant. To avoid costly mistakes, read up and ask questions before you start.
PETITTI | Growing Small Trees in Containers for the Patio
FAQ
What evergreen plants are potted for privacy?
Potted Privacy: Use container plants like Dwarf Alberta Spruce or Sky Pencil Holly on patios and decks to create mobile privacy screens that can be rearranged as needed. Informal Groupings: Plant evergreens like Ligustrum and Mountain Laurel in clusters to create natural, textured screens that bloom in season.
What is the best evergreen tree for privacy screen?
For mature screening trees, our favourite full standard trees (trees with 2m clear stem) include Photinia Red Robin Trees, Holm Oak Trees, Holly Full Standard Trees and Magnolia Grandiflora Full Standard.
What evergreen grows well in pots?
With green and glossy leaves and the fact that it’s such an easy plant to shape through smart pruning, boxwood is one of the best evergreen plants for pots. Not only is boxwood lush and size-variable, but it’s also deer-resistant. So if you have regular visits from local wildlife, boxwood isn’t a plant they’ll feed on.
Will potted evergreen trees survive winter?
Many evergreens are hardier to be used in much colder zones, such as Dwarf Alberta Spruce. Use containers that are as large as possible. This allows for more soil volume; the more soil there is, the better insulated the roots are. Avoid using clay or ceramic containers—these will likely crack over the winter.