Grow This Evergreen Tree On Your Patio For Natural Privacy While Saving Space

Your backyard is a natural sanctuary, your own little personal slice of the great outdoors, and a patio can be a great way to sit back and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. However, while many people consider their backyard to be a private retreat outside, yards with nearby neighbors, walkways, or similar public areas may be lacking in terms of privacy. Privacy fences can be a great way to fend off wandering gazes, but they can make your yard feel closed in or detract from your preferred aesthetic. As a result, you may find yourself on the hunt for natural ways to create privacy for outdoor spots like patios, such as using an eye-catching yet compact tree.

The Forever Goldy Arborvitae tree (Thuja plicata '4EVER') is an eye-catching evergreen that's both space-savvy and low-maintenance. With vibrant, light yellow foliage, these trees can light up your outdoor space, all while their dense, compact shape helps add more privacy. It functions well when planted directly as a border, but can also be grown in containers, an added versatility that helps you create a living privacy wall that's perfect for your patio's layout.

Although the Forever Goldy can be an easy-to-care-for tree that's perfect for low-maintenance privacy, it's not entirely hands-free. Instead, before adding this evergreen tree to your patio, it's important to understand the care needed to help it succeed as one of the best plants for privacy, from climate to day-to-day maintenance.

Hardy in USDA Hardy Zones 5 through 8, the Forever Goldy Arborvitae thrives in warm, dry climates, including the American South. It's tolerant to both heat and drought, and this tree readily holds up to heavier sun exposure. In fact, for the best results when planting a Forever Goldy, you'll want to choose a site that receives full sun each day. This means at least six hours of direct, unobstructed sunlight for successful growth. As a result, if your patio is obscured or doesn't receive enough light, you want to choose a different plant to provide natural privacy. In some environments, it may tolerate partial shade. Fortunately, since these plants can thrive in containers, if you're unsure of the best spot for them around your patio, you can move and adjust as needed.

When it comes to the care required on a day-to-day basis, the Forever Goldy doesn't need much. This gives you more time to soak up the sun and enjoy your patio rather than fussing over your natural privacy screen. Before the plant is established, it may require more frequent watering. After it matures, however, you can opt for deeper watering less often. These trees do best when given a few inches of mulch, as well as an annual dose of fertilizer in spring. Those who prefer minimal pruning may appreciate that the Forever Goldy exhibits moderate growth and requires sparse pruning only as desired.