The crack in your privacy isn’t always where the fence ends — it’s where it fails to reach above eye level. An above-fence screening tree closes that gap with a column of foliage that blocks sightlines from neighbors, road noise, and the wind that funnels over a six-foot board.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I research nursery catalogs, study USDA hardiness zone maps, compare root system vigor, and analyze aggregate owner feedback on how fast these plants actually seal a sightline rather than sit stagnant in a pot.
This guide evaluates the five most reliable conifer and juniper options for instant vertical mass. After comparing growth rate, mature width, cold hardiness, and foliage density, I settled on the definitive list of the best above fence screening trees for homeowners who need real height without devouring the entire yard.
How To Choose The Best Above Fence Screening Trees
Selecting the wrong tree for an above-fence screen wastes two to three growing seasons before you realize it won’t work. You need a plant that stays narrow at maturity, tolerates the exposed microclimate at the top of a fence, and grows fast enough to close the gap before you lose patience. Focus on these three factors.
Mature Width at Eye Level
An arborvitae that spreads eight feet wide will push into your neighbor’s yard or swallow your own planting bed. Look for cultivars with a mature width under four feet — the Blue Arrow Juniper holds at two feet, and the Emerald Green Arborvitae tops out near three. Width matters more than ultimate height because a fence already gives you the lower half.
Annual Growth Rate
Above-fence screening is a race against time. Green Giants can push two to three feet of new growth per year under ideal conditions, while slower arborvitae varieties may add only six to twelve inches. If you need a solid screen in under four years, choose a Thuja Green Giant or a heavy-rooted two-foot starter. Measure your timeline against the plant’s documented annual increment, not the optimistic “fast growing” tag.
Cold Hardiness and Wind Tolerance
The top of a fence exposes foliage to desiccating winter winds that ground-level plants never feel. Check the USDA zone rating — Emerald Green Arborvitae handles zones 3 through 7 but can suffer winter burn in zone 4 with no windbreak. Blue Arrow Juniper and Thuja Green Giant tolerate a wider temperature range and resist browning from wind-driven cold. If you live in a zone 4 or colder area, prioritize wind-hardy species over pure growth speed.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect Plants Green Giant 2ft. 8-Pack | Premium | Instant height at fence line | 2 ft. starter height | Amazon |
| Thuja Green Giant 10-Pack | Mid-Range | Large-scale privacy windbreak | 10 live plants per pack | Amazon |
| Blue Arrow Juniper 10-Pack | Premium | Narrow column in tight spots | 2 ft. mature width | Amazon |
| Thuja Green Giant 10-Pack (Bare Root) | Budget | Budget-friendly starter screen | 7-10 in. starter height | Amazon |
| Emerald Green Arborvitae 1 Gal. | Budget | Single-plant filler in existing screen | 1 gallon grow pot | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 2ft. Tall 8-Pack
The Thuja Green Giant is the benchmark for above-fence screening because it combines aggressive vertical growth with a naturally pyramidal form that stays manageable. This 8-pack ships at a two-foot starting height, meaning you skip the first year of babying a six-inch plug — each plant already has a root system capable of pushing three feet of new growth annually. The foliage is dense enough to block a sightline by the end of the second growing season, and the trees handle clay soil, full sun, and moderate drought once established.
At an eight-count quantity, this bundle covers a 40-foot fence line at five-foot on-center spacing without running short. The plants arrive in their own grower pots with established root balls, which reduces transplant shock compared to bare-root alternatives. Owners consistently report that these Green Giants emerge from winter with minimal browning, a sign of strong wind tolerance at the fence-top exposure.
For a premium bundle that accelerates your privacy timeline by a full year, this is the highest-velocity option in the category. The only tradeoff is the up-front investment — you pay for the head start, but the growth payout is measurable within months rather than seasons.
What works
- Two-foot starter height cuts establishment time dramatically
- Dense, wind-resistant foliage survives fence-top exposure
- Delivered in grow pots with intact root balls for low shock
What doesn’t
- Price per plant is higher than bare-root alternatives
- Green Giants can exceed 15 ft. width at full maturity if unpruned
2. Thuja Green Giant 10 Live Plants
This 10-pack of Thuja Green Giants delivers the same aggressive growth genetics as the premium two-foot bundle but at a smaller starting size that brings the per-plant cost down significantly. When you need to cover a 50-foot boundary without overspending, this is the volume-to-cost ratio that makes sense. Each plant is a Thuja standishii x plicata hybrid, which means it inherits the disease resistance of Western Red Cedar and the rapid growth of the Japanese Arborvitae.
The plants ship at a smaller starter size, so you will need one extra season to catch up to the two-foot option. However, the annual growth rate of two to three feet means that gap closes quickly. Space them at six-foot intervals and you will have a solid screen at the fence line by year three. The foliage keeps its deep green color through winter in zones 5 through 7, and the trees tolerate light clay and periodic dry spells once the root system establishes.
For the buyer who wants the same genus and growth performance as the premium pick but is willing to wait one more season for the height, this pack offers the best cost-per-screen coverage in the category. The smaller initial size does demand more careful watering during the first summer.
What works
- Excellent cost-per-plant for large boundary coverage
- Fast genetic growth of two to three feet per year
- Disease-resistant hybrid cross
What doesn’t
- Smaller starter plants require extra establishment season
- Needs consistent irrigation through first summer
3. Blue Arrow Juniper 10 Live Plants
The Blue Arrow Juniper is the specialist for extremely narrow fence lines where even a Green Giant’s four-foot spread feels too bulky. This columnar Juniperus Scopulorum holds a mature width of just two feet while reaching up to 15 feet tall, making it the tightest vertical profile in this entire category. The blue-green scale-like foliage provides year-round color that contrasts well with the darker green of arborvitae, and the plant’s drought tolerance means it thrives in sandy or rocky soil where other evergreens yellow out.
This 10-pack ships rooted in grow pots and establishes quickly in full sun locations. Owners report that the Blue Arrow requires almost no pruning to maintain its pencil-like silhouette — it naturally grows straight up without the sprawling lower branches that plague other junipers. The plant is also more cold-hardy than many arborvitae in exposed fence positions, handling zone 4 conditions without the winter burn that disfigures Emerald Green in similar spots.
If your fence line is sandwiched between a driveway and a property line, or if you need a screen that won’t swallow a narrow side-yard, this is the most space-efficient evergreen you can plant. The growth rate is slower than Thuja at roughly one foot per year, so you need patience or a taller starter.
What works
- Narrowest mature width at just two feet
- Drought and cold tolerant for tough fence exposures
- Zero pruning needed for natural columnar shape
What doesn’t
- Slower annual growth rate
- Blue-green color is less traditional privacy-screen look
4. 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 7-10 Inches Tall
This bare-root Green Giant pack is the entry-level way to start an above-fence screen without a large up-front investment. At seven to ten inches tall, these plants are essentially rooted cuttings, but they carry the same genetic potential to hit 50 feet if given space. For gardeners on a tight budget who are willing to invest time over money, this pack covers a 50-foot line at a fraction of the cost of potted equivalents.
Bare-root shipping means the plants arrive dormant and need immediate soaking and planting. The establishment survival rate depends heavily on soil preparation and consistent watering during the first year — if you are new to landscaping, the failure risk is higher than with potted plants. However, the growers who succeed with these report that the Green Giants catch up to container-grown stock by year two because the roots are not pot-bound.
Buy this pack only if you have the discipline to water weekly through the first dry summer and the patience to wait three to four years for a real screen. The low entry price is a reward for long-term commitment, not a shortcut.
What works
- Lowest per-plant cost for large-scale planting
- Same fast-growing genetics as premium Green Giants
- Bare roots establish without pot-bound restrictions
What doesn’t
- Bare-root requires immediate planting and careful first-year watering
- Takes three to four years to produce a meaningful screen
- Higher failure rate for inexperienced planters
5. Perfect Plants Emerald Green Arborvitae in 1 Gal. Grower’s Pot
The Emerald Green Arborvitae is the classic narrow evergreen for formal privacy hedges, but it deserves a specific role in an above-fence screening strategy. This single plant in a one-gallon pot is best used as a gap-filler between larger Green Giants or as a replacement for a single dead specimen. The mature height of 12 to 14 feet and width of three feet means it integrates well into a mixed screen without overpowering the line.
What holds the Emerald Green back as a primary screening tree is its growth rate — roughly six to nine inches per year, which is half the speed of a Green Giant. If you plant a row of these from scratch, you are looking at five to six years before the fence line disappears. The plant also suffers winter burn more readily than Thuja in exposed, windy fence-top positions, especially in zones 4 and colder.
This is a fine purchase for filling a single hole in an existing screen or for gardeners who want a formal, manicured look and are willing to wait. For anyone trying to block a view quickly, the Emerald Green is better as an accent than as the backbone of the screen.
What works
- Compact three-foot mature width for tight spacing
- Classic formal pyramid shape for manicured hedges
- Single pot makes it easy to fill gaps in existing screens
What doesn’t
- Slow growth at six to nine inches per year
- Prone to winter burn in cold, exposed fence positions
- Not suitable as the primary fast-growing screen tree
Hardware & Specs Guide
Growth Rate (Feet Per Year)
Thuja Green Giants consistently lead this category with two to three feet of vertical gain annually under full sun and adequate moisture. Blue Arrow Junipers add roughly one foot per year, while Emerald Green Arborvitae lags at six to nine inches. If your timeline for a closed screen is under three years, Green Giant genetics are the only realistic choice. For a side-yard where slower pace is acceptable, the juniper’s narrow profile compensates for the wait.
Mature Width and Spacing
Above-fence screening trees must stay narrow enough to avoid engulfing the planting bed. Blue Arrow Juniper holds at two feet, making it the slimmest option. Emerald Green Arborvitae reaches three feet, and Green Giants can spread eight to fifteen feet at full maturity if not pruned. For Green Giants, plant at five to six feet on-center and shear annually once the screen height is achieved to prevent lateral runaway.
FAQ
How far from the fence should I plant screening trees?
Can I plant above fence screening trees in clay soil?
What is the fastest growing tree to block neighbors above a 6-foot fence?
Do Blue Arrow Junipers stay green all winter?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the best above fence screening trees winner is the Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 2ft. 8-Pack because it delivers the fastest vertical closure with a two-foot head start and dense, wind-resistant foliage that survives fence-top exposure. If you need the absolute narrowest profile for tight side-yard spaces, grab the Blue Arrow Juniper 10-Pack. And for covering a long boundary on a budget, nothing beats the volume-to-cost ratio of the Thuja Green Giant 10-Pack.