Plant these fast-growing evergreens to create style, add privacy, and invite wildlife to your backyard.

The humble evergreen shouldn't be overlooked! Plant fast-growing evergreens to create privacy, shelter, and an invitation for wildlife to visit all year. The year-round charm of evergreens is a must-have for every landscape—even if you only have room for one! Use our guide to help you decide which of these fast-growing evergreens fit your space, needs, and style.

Captain Yew

With fabulous winter color, the Captain Yew is a perfect pick for a beautiful, fast-growing evergreen. Unlike some other varieties of evergreens, it can tolerate a fair bit of shade. In fact, they are quite tolerant of many conditions, including drought and harsh cold. If you're looking to fill a shady area of your property with greenery, you should definitely consider Captain Yew. It's an excellent pyramidal evergreen to add a little style to any space.

Juniper

Junipers are another great option if you're looking to add fast-growing evergreens in your garden. We recommend the Wichita Blue or the Skyrocket. The Wichita Blue is pyramid-shaped, making it perfect for hedges, privacy walls, or singular landscape accent pieces. The silvery-blue colored foliage is unforgettable and can be enjoyed all year round. It can grow up to 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide, but of course, you can prune it to the height and width of your preference. The Skyrocket variety is a slightly smaller Juniper. The Skyrocket is appropriately named for its narrower shape. It's a fast-growing evergreen that is a bit more manageable at 15-20 feet tall, depending on environmental conditions. One of their best qualities is their strong resistance to deer and rabbit browsing. The slightly prickly texture and taste of the juniper make it a least favorite among munching critters. Junipers tend to do well in most parts of the United States. They need at least six hours of sunlight per day, so plant them in a sunny area of your property and enjoy the ever-lasting greenery for years to come!

White Pine

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas or any other holiday, try planting white pines. Okay, the name is a bit misleading: white pines aren't actually white. They stand out with their blue-green needles in clusters of five needles per bundle. White pines are not only fast-growing evergreens; they grow into huge, stunning trees. Expect your white pine to grow from 50-80 feet tall. For a healthy tree, plant it in acidic, well-draining soil, and keep in mind that these trees prefer cool, humid climates.

Arborvitae

Plant arborvitae evergreens for a fast-growing and lush privacy fence. They are sturdy trees that can tolerate a variety of growing conditions. The Thuja Green Giant is one evergreen that will impress you with its speed—and size! You can expect to see 3-5 feet of growth per year! The Emerald Green Thuja is another popular variety of arborvitae that is fantastic for creating privacy and beauty in your garden. Fast-growing and disease-resistant—what more could you ask for!? Getting them established is key so plant them at a time you will be around to provide plenty of care like regular watering, mulching and treatments of root stimulator.

Norway Spruce

You don't have to go all the way to Norway to enjoy this glorious spruce tree. With its graceful branches and pyramid shape, it's a hub for wildlife activity, including deer, hawks, and owls. The Norway spruce is the fastest-growing spruce in the world: 13-24 inches per year! While it's still young, the Norway spruce is easy to transplant. Plant this evergreen somewhere with at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, and plenty of growing space. It also makes the perfect windbreak, so consider where you want shelter and privacy on your property before planting. If the size of a big Norway spruce seems too intimidating, then opt for a smaller, more narrow version with the Columnar Norway Spruce variety; this variety remains very narrow (around 6-8 feet wide) and reaches only 20-30 feet tall.

Evergreens are the ideal trees for sectioning off outdoor areas, creating privacy, and attracting wildlife. They also add life to the winter landscape and are great for stringing holiday lights. If you're looking to add a tall evergreen or two to your Bettendorf garden, come visit us! We'd love to show you what's in stock and how you can add beautiful, fast-growing evergreens into your outdoor space.