Cheap Cell Grown Trees for Privacy and Screening

The cheapest privacy trees or screening trees that you can buy online are usually a year old and you have the choice of bare root or cell grown. If you want to plant almost any time of the year, then cell grown trees are your only choice as bare root is restricted to the dormant season of November to March. They also have the advantage over bare root that the roots are far less disturbed i.e. reducing damage and transplant shock.

The trade-off is time: small plants will not provide instant screening^[1][3] unless you use them to blinker your view while walking down your garden path. With annual growth rates ranging from around 10cm for the slowest options to about 60cm for the fastest, you will be waiting at least a few seasons before Freddy the fly-fishing ceramic gnome monstrosity is screened off. Those rates can improve as the tree ages because Leylandii can grow over 90cm a year as an established tree.

Contents

First, What Is A Good Privacy and Screening Tree?
Compare Cell-Grown Privacy and Screening Trees
Sources

First, What Is A Good Privacy and Screening Tree?

We would say the bare minimum is to provide a dense enough canopy to prevent easy viewing to the other side and reach a height of 2m or more. Evergreen trees obviously have the advantage over deciduous trees for permanent tree screening, but deciduous trees can still provide a good screen if pruned correctly and forced to grow a dense framework during the early formative years. Planting as a double staggered row will also reduce "see-throughness".

The plants below are usually available in our cell-grown range and meet the screening test used in this guide. The cost grouping is based on the price per plant per metre e.g. a Western Red Cedar can be planted at greater spacings than other screening trees i.e. becomes cheaper per metre. ^{[2] [11] [12]}

Planting distances are a good general guideline and work for the most part, but the emphasis is on guideline. We have first-hand experience of a successful Leylandii hedge planted at 30-40cm apart when the guidelines are closer to 60-120cm.^{[2] [10]} For those looking for the cheapest screening and privacy option, you can stretch out the planting distances but will have longer to wait before they knit together. The general rule is the faster growing they are, the more you can "get away" with stretching out the planting distances. ^[3]

Compare Cell-Grown Privacy and Screening Trees

For easier comparison, young-tree growth is grouped into three broad bands: Low at 10–20cm a year, Average at 20–40cm a year and High at 40–60cm+ a year. These bands are general guides rather than guaranteed annual increases, as growth varies with species, establishment and growing conditions.

Maintenance is grouped by the routine work needed to keep each plant useful as a screen, not by its eventual size. Low means little or no regular pruning, or generally one trim a year; Average means around two trims a year or occasional corrective pruning; High means frequent size control, repeated cutting, difficult pruning or significant pest and disease management.

34 options shown

Plant	Annual growth	Relative cost	Best use and main drawback
Norway spruce Picea abies Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Dense evergreen for rural screening and shelter, including coastal sites slightly back from direct sea winds; it becomes a very large tree and is unsuitable for small sites. ^{[7] [8] [13]}
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Evergreen tree screening for exposed, well-drained sites, including coastal locations slightly back from the sea; it matures into a large tree with an irregular outline. ^{[7] [14]}
Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis Evergreen	40–60cm+ per year High	Low	Large evergreen for exposed coastal shelter and screening on moist sites; its enormous ultimate size makes it unsuitable for ordinary gardens. ^{[8] [9] [15]}
Maritime pine Pinus pinaster Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Large evergreen for sandy sites with full exposure to sea winds; its broad, increasingly open crown makes it unsuitable for a narrow, dense screen. ^{[7] [16]}
Serbian spruce Picea omorika Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	A relatively narrow conifer for tall screening, including coastal sites slightly back from direct sea winds; it still becomes a very tall tree and needs shelter from cold, drying winds. ^{[7] [17]}
Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Shade-tolerant evergreen for moist, sheltered screening; it can exceed 30m and is unsuitable for confined sites. ^[18]
Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Evergreen	40–60cm+ per year High	Low	Large evergreen for tall screening and shelterbelts on spacious sites; it grows beyond 12m with a spread over 8m, making it impractical for ordinary gardens. ^{[8] [19]}
Grand fir Abies grandis Evergreen	40–60cm+ per year High	Low	Tall, narrow-conical evergreen for large-scale screening on moist, well-drained ground; it eventually exceeds 12m with a spread over 8m. ^{[1] [20]}
Japanese red cedar Cryptomeria japonica Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Conical evergreen for screening on moist, sheltered sites; the species becomes a large tree over 12m tall, so it is unsuitable for narrow boundaries. ^[21]
Noble fir Abies procera Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Blue-foliaged conifer for estate or forestry screening in cool, moist and exposed sites; slow establishment and poor performance on dry ground are the main drawbacks. ^{[1] [22]}
Blue spruce Picea pungens Glauca Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Prickly blue-grey evergreen for open, sunny and exposed sites; it reaches about 15m with a 4–8m spread, so it is unsuitable for narrow boundaries. ^[23]
Fraser fir Abies fraseri Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Evergreen group screen for cool, moist sites; drought and poorly drained soils are major limitations. ^{[1] [24]}
Macedonian pine Pinus peuce Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Dense, narrow-pyramidal evergreen for exposed, well-drained sites; it can reach about 30m and spread over 8m, so it is not a narrow hedge. ^[25]
Nordmann fir Abies nordmanniana Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Large, symmetrical evergreen for moist, well-drained and sheltered sites; its ultimate size makes it unsuitable for confined gardens. ^[26]
Silver fir Abies alba Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Low	Very tall evergreen for cool, spacious sites with moist, well-drained acidic soil; its ultimate size makes it unsuitable for ordinary gardens. ^{[5] [27]}
Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Average	Evergreen specimen screen for estates and very large gardens; it needs ample space to reach its full potential and is unsuitable for narrow boundaries. ^[28]
Mountain gum Eucalyptus dalrympleana Evergreen	40–60cm+ per year High	Average	Evergreen screening tree that can be coppiced or pollarded to control its size; without regular management it exceeds 12m and develops a 4–8m spread. ^{[29] [30]}
Western red cedar Thuja plicata Evergreen	40–60cm+ per year High	Average	Dense evergreen hedge and shelter for exposed coastal sites; it needs regular trimming and becomes a very large tree if left uncut. ^{[2] [7] [31]}
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Deciduous; dense thorny winter framework	40–60cm+ per year High	Average	Thorny wildlife hedge for rural and exposed coastal boundaries; as a deciduous plant, it provides less complete winter privacy than an evergreen. ^{[7] [32]}
Beech Fagus sylvatica Deciduous; clipped plants retain many brown leaves	20–40cm per year Average	Average	Formal hedge with useful winter leaf retention when clipped; choose hornbeam instead on very heavy or wet soil. ^{[2] [33]}
Cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Average	Broad, dense evergreen hedge for sun or partial shade; it can spread over 8m if unpruned and is harmful if eaten. ^[34]
Portuguese laurel Prunus lusitanica Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Average	Dense evergreen hedge for sun or partial shade and a wide range of well-drained soils; it is harmful if eaten and needs regular hedge pruning. ^[35]
Gorse Ulex europaeus Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Average	Thorny evergreen screening for poor sandy soils and exposed coastal sites; it is an informal shrub limited to about 2.5m rather than a tall, neatly clipped screen. ^{[7] [36]}
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus Deciduous; clipped plants retain some brown leaves	20–40cm per year Average	Average	Dense hedge for heavy or wet soils and exposed sites; it retains fewer dead leaves through winter than beech. ^{[33] [37]}
Yew Taxus baccata Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Above average	Dense evergreen hedge for sun or shade that tolerates exposure and can be trimmed and shaped; it is toxic if eaten. ^[38]
Milkflower cotoneaster Cotoneaster lacteus Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Average	Bushy evergreen screen with white flowers and red berries; its spreading habit makes it unsuitable for a very narrow boundary. ^[39]
Oval-leaf privet Ligustrum ovalifolium Semi-evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Above average	Dense semi-evergreen hedge for sun or partial shade; it needs pruning two or three times during the growing season and may lose more foliage in cold winters. ^{[2] [40]}
Leylandii – green/gold × Cuprocyparis leylandii Evergreen	40–60cm+ per year High	Above average	Dense evergreen hedge for year-round screening; it needs regular trimming and will not regrow from old, bare wood. ^{[2] [41]}
Holm oak Quercus ilex Evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Above average	Evergreen hedge or tree screen for exposed coastal sites; it develops a massive rounded crown if left to grow as a tree. ^{[7] [42]}
Wild privet Ligustrum vulgare Semi-evergreen	20–40cm per year Average	Above average	Native, bushy wildlife hedge; it is deciduous or semi-evergreen and may lose most of its leaves in colder winters. ^{[2] [43]}
Common juniper Juniperus communis Evergreen	10–20cm per year Low	Above average	Evergreen for dry, chalky or sandy sites with free-draining soil; its habit varies from spreading to columnar or bushy, making it less predictable as a uniform screen. ^{[1] [44]}
Copper beech Fagus sylvatica Purpurea Deciduous; clipped plants retain many brown leaves	20–40cm per year Average	Above average	Formal hedge with copper-purple foliage and useful winter leaf retention; like green beech, it performs poorly on very heavy or wet ground. ^{[2] [33] [45]}
Box Buxus sempervirens Evergreen	10–20cm per year Low	Above average	Dense evergreen hedging for low or medium screens; box blight and box-tree caterpillar are major drawbacks. ^[46]
Holly Ilex aquifolium Evergreen	10–20cm per year Low	Above average	Dense, prickly evergreen hedge for shade and coastal sites with some protection from direct sea winds; male and female plants are usually both needed if berries are wanted. ^{[7] [47]}

Need a larger quantity?

Send us your planting list for a quotation. Mixed lists of trees, shrubs, hedging plants, climbers and vines can be considered.

Wholesale Plant and Tree Prices

Sources

Show sources

Royal Horticultural Society: Plants for screening. Screening principles, suitable plant types and the need to match height and spread to the site.
Royal Horticultural Society: Hedges – selection. Suggested planting spacings for many of the hedge species in this comparison, including Leylandii, western red cedar, yew, box, milkflower cotoneaster, oval-leaf privet, cherry laurel, Portuguese laurel, hornbeam, beech and copper beech. Also used for foliage type, screening suitability and comparative hedge characteristics.
Royal Horticultural Society: How to grow hedges. Establishment, formative pruning, density and trimming requirements.
Royal Horticultural Society: How to trim a hedge. Trimming practice and the risk of cutting most conifers back into old wood.
Royal Horticultural Society: How to grow conifers. Size control, pruning periods and the limited ability of most conifers to regrow from brown wood.
Royal Horticultural Society: Hedge renovation. Regular light trimming and the limited renovation options for most conifer screens.
Royal Horticultural Society: Plants for coastal areas. Plants recommended for exposed or more sheltered coastal planting.
Royal Horticultural Society: Windbreaks and shelterbelts. Screening, shelter, exposure and general planting guidance.
Forest Research: Sitka spruce species guidance and Forestry Commission guidance on conifers and coastal exposure.
Scottish Government: High Hedges Act guidance – hedge spacing. Recognises that conventional hedge plants are commonly spaced 30–60cm apart, while Leylandii and other fast-growing conifers may still form a hedge when planted up to 1.2m apart, depending on the size of the planting stock.
Woodland Trust: Holly planting information. Exact-species guidance for cell-grown common holly, specifying approximately 30cm spacing for a single-row hedge and staggered double-row planting with 50cm between plants and 40cm between rows.
Royal Horticultural Society: How to grow hawthorn. Exact-species hedge guidance specifying 45–60cm between hawthorn plants in a single row.
Royal Horticultural Society: Norway spruce. Exact-species profile used for its dense evergreen habit, mature height and spread.
Royal Horticultural Society: Scots pine. Exact-species profile used for exposure tolerance, well-drained soils, mature size and increasingly irregular outline.
Royal Horticultural Society: Sitka spruce. Exact-species profile used for evergreen habit, site requirements and ultimate size.
Royal Horticultural Society: Maritime pine. Exact-species profile used for sandy, well-drained sites, crown habit and ultimate size.
Royal Horticultural Society: Serbian spruce. Exact-species profile used for its relatively narrow habit, ultimate size and need for protection from cold drying winds.
Royal Horticultural Society: Western hemlock. Exact-species profile used for shade tolerance, moist sheltered conditions and ultimate size.
Royal Horticultural Society: Douglas fir. Exact-species profile used for evergreen habit, mature height and spread.
Royal Horticultural Society: Grand fir. Exact-species profile used for its tall narrow-conical habit, soil requirements and ultimate size.
Royal Horticultural Society: Japanese cedar. Exact-species profile used for conical habit, growing conditions and ultimate size.
Forest Research: Noble fir. Exact-species guidance used for foliage, exposure, climate, establishment and sensitivity to dry sites.
Royal Horticultural Society: Colorado or blue spruce. Exact-species profile used for prickly blue-grey foliage, exposure and mature height and spread.
US Forest Service: Fraser fir. Exact-species account used for cool moist climate requirements and sensitivity to drought and poor drainage.
Royal Horticultural Society: Macedonian pine. Exact-species profile used for narrow-pyramidal habit, exposure and mature height and spread.
Royal Horticultural Society: Nordmann fir. Exact-species profile used for symmetrical habit, site requirements and ultimate size.
Royal Horticultural Society: European silver fir. Exact-species profile used for size, soil and moisture requirements.
Royal Horticultural Society: Atlas cedar. Exact-species profile used for specimen use, mature size and space requirements.
Royal Horticultural Society: Mountain gum. Exact-species profile used for evergreen habit and mature height and spread.
Royal Horticultural Society: Eucalyptus pruning. Coppicing and pollarding guidance, including mountain gum.
Royal Horticultural Society: Western red cedar. Exact-species profile used for hedging, trimming and ultimate size.
Royal Horticultural Society: Common hawthorn. Exact-species profile used for thorniness, wildlife hedging, coastal use and deciduous foliage.
Royal Horticultural Society: How to grow beech. Winter leaf retention in clipped beech hedges and the recommendation to use hornbeam on heavy or wet soil.
Royal Horticultural Society: Cherry laurel. Exact-species profile used for evergreen hedging, sun and shade tolerance, mature spread and harmfulness if eaten.
Royal Horticultural Society: Portugal laurel. Exact-species profile used for hedging, soil and light tolerance, pruning and harmfulness if eaten.
Royal Horticultural Society: Common gorse. Exact-species profile used for poor sandy soils, coastal use, thorny habit and ultimate height.
Royal Horticultural Society: Common hornbeam. Exact-species profile used for hedging, exposure and soil tolerance.
Royal Horticultural Society: Common yew. Exact-species profile used for dense evergreen hedging, shade and exposure tolerance, pruning and toxicity.
Royal Horticultural Society: Milkflower cotoneaster. Exact-species profile used for evergreen screening, spreading habit, flowers and berries.
Royal Horticultural Society: Oval-leaf privet. Exact-species profile used for semi-evergreen hedging, light tolerance and pruning frequency.
Royal Horticultural Society: Leyland cypress pruning. Regular trimming requirements and failure to regrow from old bare wood.
Royal Horticultural Society: Holm oak. Exact-species profile used for evergreen hedging, coastal use and mature crown size.
Royal Horticultural Society: Wild privet. Exact-species profile used for bushy habit, wildlife use and deciduous or semi-evergreen foliage.
Royal Horticultural Society: Common juniper. Exact-species profile used for dry, chalky or sandy, well-drained sites.
Royal Horticultural Society: Copper beech. Exact plant-group profile used for copper-purple foliage and hedging suitability.
Royal Horticultural Society: How to grow box. Dense evergreen hedging and the risks from box blight and box-tree caterpillar.
Royal Horticultural Society: Common holly. Exact-species profile used for prickly evergreen hedging, shade tolerance and male/female requirements for berries.