Here's the question we get more than almost any other: how far apart should I plant these? It sounds like a small detail, but spacing is the single decision that makes or breaks a privacy screen. Plant too far apart and you're left staring at gaps for years. Plant too close and your trees compete for water and light, grow thin, and invite disease. Get it right and you get exactly what you came for — a solid, living wall. Let's nail it.
The golden rule of privacy spacing
Spacing is measured center to center — trunk to trunk — not from the edges of the foliage. The right number depends on the tree's mature width: you want the trees to just touch and overlap as they fill in. A good rule of thumb is to space privacy trees at roughly 60–70% of their mature width. Tighter spacing fills in faster; wider spacing is cheaper and lets each tree show its natural form. Here's what that looks like for the most popular screens.
Spacing by tree, at a glance
Green Giant Arborvitae — the number-one privacy tree in America, and for good reason.
- Tight, fast screen: 5 feet apart
- Standard screen: 5–6 feet apart
- Relaxed / show each tree's form: up to 8 feet apart
- Mature size: large — 20–40+ ft tall, so give the row room to breathe
Columnar junipers — Spartan, Blue Arrow & Sky Rocket — the move when you want a narrow footprint or blue color.
- Solid hedge: 3 feet apart
- Standard: 3–4 feet apart
- Why closer: these stay slim and upright, so their columns need to overlap to read as a wall
Large spruce windbreaks — Norway Spruce & Black Hills Spruce — for big properties that want height, mass, and wind protection.
- Windbreak / privacy: 10–12 feet apart
- Why farther: these get wide and heavy with age — crowd them and the lower branches thin out
The staggered-row trick
If you've got the width for it, don't plant a single straight line — plant a staggered double row in a zig-zag, with the two rows a few feet apart and the trees offset. You get a denser, truly gap-free screen, better wind protection, and a built-in safety net: if one tree ever struggles, there's no see-through hole. It's the difference between a fence and a forest.
How many trees will you need?
Simple math: take the length of the run you want to screen (in feet) and divide by your spacing. A 60-foot property line planted with Green Giants at 6 feet apart needs about 10 trees (60 ÷ 6). For a staggered double row, roughly double it. When in doubt, round toward tighter spacing — a slightly fuller screen is a mistake you'll never regret.
A note for Treasure Valley planters
In our dry, windy high desert, two extra habits pay off. First, run a soaker hose or drip line down the whole row so every tree gets even water and your screen fills in level instead of patchy. Second, give an exposed, west-facing row a little extra care its first couple of winters — consistent watering right up to freeze-up helps evergreens resist winter burn from our drying winds. Set the row up well now and it'll knit into a wall you'll enjoy for decades.
Privacy spacing FAQs
How far from my fence or property line should I plant?
Plant at least half the tree's mature width away from a fence or line so the grown tree isn't crowding (or crossing) the boundary. For Green Giants, that's roughly 6–8 feet off the line; for narrow junipers, 2–3 feet.
Can I plant privacy trees closer to fill in faster?
A little tighter is fine and common, but don't overdo it — crowded trees compete and thin out at the bottom, which is exactly where you want screening. Staggering a double row is a better way to get density than cramming a single row.
How long until they fill in?
With a fast grower like Green Giant Arborvitae and good watering, a tight-spaced row can form a solid screen in just a few years.
Ready to plant your wall?
Measure your run, pick your spacing, and you're set. Browse our privacy trees — all family-grown and ready to get to work — and reach out anytime if you'd like help figuring out how many you need for your space. Happy planting, neighbor.