TL;DR: The best privacy shrubs for New Jersey yards combine reliable hardiness in our Zone 6a/6b climate, dense growth that actually screens views, and tolerance for the deer pressure most Bergen County properties live with. Top picks include Green Giant arborvitae, American holly, boxwood, skip laurel, cherry laurel, inkberry holly, privet, hemlock (with care), lilac, and viburnum — a mix of evergreens for year-round screening and flowering shrubs for layered seasonal interest.
Want a yard that finally feels private? Call Borst Landscape & Design at (201) 254-5740 or reach out online for a planting consultation.
Why the Best Privacy Shrubs for New Jersey Yards Need to Be Chosen Carefully
Not every shrub that screens views in a Pinterest photo will actually thrive in Bergen County. Heavy clay soils, freeze-thaw winters, hot humid summers, and persistent deer pressure all narrow the field. The best privacy shrubs for New Jersey yards balance hardiness, density, mature size, and (just as important) deer resistance — because there’s nothing more frustrating than installing a row of evergreens that get nibbled to bare stems by January. The list below has been chosen for exactly that reality, with notes on where each one shines and where it doesn’t. For the seasonal care side of the same picture, our piece on spring tree and shrub care walks through what these plants need to stay healthy.
Here at Borst Landscape & Design, our expert team designs and installs privacy plantings tailored to your property and the look you want. Call us at (201) 254-5740 or contact us online to schedule a property walk-through.
What to Look for in a Privacy Shrub
Before getting into specific recommendations, a few things separate a great privacy shrub from a frustrating one:
- Hardiness — must thrive in USDA Zone 6a/6b without coddling
- Density — needs to actually block views, not just suggest a screen
- Mature size — should fit your space without overgrowing it in five years
- Deer resistance — non-negotiable for most Bergen County properties
- Disease resistance — especially important for monoculture hedges
- Maintenance level — match what you’re realistically willing to do
10 Privacy Shrubs Worth Planting in NJ
1. Green Giant Arborvitae
The workhorse of NJ privacy hedges. Fast-growing (3–5 feet a year when young), deer-resistant in most years, hardy in heavy soils, and reaches a mature 30–50 feet. Plant 5–6 feet apart for a solid wall. Far more reliable than the smaller emerald green arborvitae, which deer browse heavily.
2. American Holly
A native evergreen with classic dark green leaves and red berries on female plants. Slower growing than arborvitae but hardier in part shade and more wildlife-friendly. Excellent for naturalistic privacy on properties with mature canopies, and wonderful in winter when berries pop against the snow.
3. Boxwood (Green Mountain, Green Velvet, Korean)
The quintessential formal privacy shrub. Dense, dark green, evergreen, and deer-resistant. Boxwood works best for shorter (3–6 foot) hedges where formal lines and tight clipping are wanted. Choose Korean or Green Mountain varieties for better cold tolerance and resistance to boxwood blight.
4. Skip Laurel
Glossy, dark green, evergreen, and surprisingly tolerant of partial shade — useful when neighboring trees throw shadows over the property line. Skip laurel produces small, fragrant white flowers in spring and forms a lovely 8–10 foot screen. One of the more elegant options on this list.
5. Cherry Laurel (Otto Luyken, Schipkaensis)
Cousin to skip laurel, with broader leaves and a slightly more relaxed habit. Lower-growing varieties (Otto Luyken at 3–4 feet) work for foundation screens; taller ones for property-line hedges. Both are evergreen, deer-resistant, and shade-tolerant.
6. Inkberry Holly
A native, more compact alternative to American holly with smaller dark green leaves and a tighter, rounder form. Inkberry tolerates wet soils and partial shade beautifully and stays in the 4–6 foot range — perfect for shorter privacy borders, foundation lines, or screening sitting areas.
7. Privet
The fast option. Privet establishes quickly, takes shearing well, and creates a clean formal hedge in a single season or two. Semi-evergreen in our climate (it holds leaves through most of the winter). Best when you need real privacy, fast, and don’t mind annual shearing.
8. Hemlock (Eastern Hemlock)
Native, beautiful, and softly textured — Eastern hemlock makes a graceful, naturalistic evergreen screen. The caveat is the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect that can damage untreated trees. Hemlock works best when paired with a professional tree and shrub care program to keep adelgid in check.
9. Lilac (Common, Bloomerang, Miss Kim)
Worth including a deciduous shrub for the bonus bloom — and lilac is one of the best. Reliable, deer-resistant, fragrant, and forms a 6–10 foot screen during the growing season. Ideal for property lines where summer privacy matters most and a leafless winter is acceptable in exchange for May fragrance and color.
10. Viburnum (Mohawk, Burkwood, Doublefile)
Viburnums offer some of the best four-season interest of any privacy shrub — fragrant spring flowers, dense summer foliage, fall berries that birds love, and good fall color. Most varieties are deciduous to semi-evergreen, with a mature size of 6–10 feet. A great mid-layer pick alongside taller evergreens.
How to Choose the Right Mix
The strongest privacy plantings rarely use a single species. A mixed-row approach (alternating two or three shrubs) creates more visual interest, more wildlife value, and far better protection if disease ever takes out one species. Pair tall evergreens (arborvitae, hemlock) with mid-level evergreens (holly, laurel) and accent flowering shrubs (lilac, viburnum) for a screen that looks designed rather than industrial. A coordinated garden design plan keeps spacing, mature size, and visual balance all working together.
Common Privacy Shrub Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a fast-growing shrub without thinking about mature size
- Planting an entire row of one species (one disease can take it all out)
- Ignoring deer pressure in plant selection
- Underestimating watering and care needs in the first two seasons
- Spacing plants too tightly and ending up with overcrowded competition
- Skipping winter protection on broadleaf evergreens in exposed sites
Plant for Privacy That Lasts Decades
The best privacy shrubs for New Jersey yards are an investment that grows in value every season. Choose hardy, deer-resistant species; mix two or three for resilience and visual interest; plant at the right spacing; and protect new plantings well in their first two years. With a little care — including thoughtful winter protection for broadleaf evergreens — your privacy planting will get better, denser, and more beautiful every year for decades.
Here at Borst Landscape & Design, our expert team can help you choose, design, and install the right mix of privacy shrubs for your property. Call us at (201) 254-5740 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We serve homeowners throughout Bergen, Morris, and Essex County, NJ.
FAQs About Privacy Shrubs in NJ
Q: What grows fastest for backyard privacy in NJ?
A: Green Giant arborvitae is among the fastest evergreen options, growing 3–5 feet a year when young. Privet establishes quickly as a clipped hedge. Both deliver real screening in just a few seasons.
Q: What’s the most deer-resistant privacy shrub?
A: Boxwood, Green Giant arborvitae, holly varieties, skip laurel, lilac, and viburnum are among the most reliably deer-resistant choices. No plant is fully deer-proof in a tough year, but these get passed over far more often than not.
Q: How tall should a privacy hedge be?
A: For most residential properties, 8–10 feet blocks second-story sight lines and creates a strong sense of enclosure at ground level. Taller isn’t always better — match the hedge height to the actual sight lines you want to block.
Q: Should I plant one species or a mix?
A: A mix almost always reads better and ages more gracefully. Mixed plantings handle disease better, provide more wildlife value, and look more natural than a long row of identical evergreens.
Q: When’s the best time to plant privacy shrubs?
A: Spring (April–May) and early fall (September–October) are the strongest planting windows in Northern NJ. Avoid the peak of summer heat or once the ground starts to freeze.
Q: Does Borst Landscape & Design design and install privacy plantings?
A: Yes. Here at Borst Landscape & Design, our expert team designs and installs privacy plantings as part of complete landscape projects. Call (201) 254-5740 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
