Fast Growing Privacy Trees for Tennessee Landscapes

January 3, 2026

It does not need decades to create natural privacy in your property. Fast-growing privacy trees can be applied to Tennessee landowners and homeowners to provide an attractive shade over the property, noise control, and protection against the wind. It also increases property worth.

In the case of suburban yards or large areas of rural land, it is necessary to choose the most appropriate fast-growing trees for privacy, which is only possible with the knowledge of the specifics of the Tennessee climate, ground, and rainfall seasonality. This instructional guide is informed by Tennessee Wholesale Nursery and will assist you in selecting established, fast-growing privacy trees that will grow in hardiness zones 6-7 in Tennessee.

Top Five Fast Growing Trees for Large Landscapes – Tennessee Wholesale Nursery

Best Fast-Growing Privacy Trees for Tennessee

To get the best fast-growing trees for privacy, choose those trees that are fast-growing and adapt well to Tennessee’s clay-heavy soil, moist summers, and occasional cold freezes.

Northern Privet: It is a unique product when it comes to fast privacy fences. It is a deciduous shrub that grows 2-3 ft. per year with a height of 10-15 ft. Northern Privet can withstand all kinds of soil, and it forms thick foliage that prevents visibility throughout the year.
Willow Oak Seedlings: It is fast-growing as well as durable. These native trees grow 24-36 inches annually, and when they attain a height of 40-60 feet. The leaves of Willow Oak Seedlings are of a fine texture, which would provide beneficial privacy barriers, besides supporting local wildlife.
Box Elder: It offers rapid coverage on problematic places. This is an adapting tree, with 2-3 feet per year in growth, which can tolerate poor drainage and compacted soil better than most alternatives. Box elder is prescribed for the properties that require low maintenance and fast screening.
American Elm Trees: The American Elm Tree is a hybrid between disease resistance and an astonishing growth of between 3 and 6 feet per year. These trees are spectacular for privacy, growing quickly to form high screens of 60-80 feet, making them suitable for large properties.
Hornbeam Tree: It provides us with dependable privacy in terms of thick branching. Hornbeam grows at a rate of 12–24 inches per year and has thick canopies, which ensure the screening during the winter. Hornbeam Tree thrives in the partially shaded environment.

How to Grow Privacy Trees Successfully in Tennessee Landscapes?

The establishment of fast-growing trees for privacy should have good site preparation and continuous maintenance depending on the Tennessee conditions.

Selection of Site and Preparation of Soil

Select sites that have sufficient sunlight that suits each species.
Test pH of soil (the Tennessee soils usually have pH of 5.5-6.5)
Supply organic matter in amending heavy soils that are clay-based and enhance drainage.
Spacing should be 8-15 feet between trees to allow maximum air circulation.

Planting Technique: Dig holes twice or thrice the diameter of the root ball but not deeper. Plant ground-level position trees to avoid waterlogging. Backfill using native soil that has been mixed with compost that promotes the diversity of the microbes and healthy roots.

Watering and Maintenance: Water heavily 2-3 times a week in the first growing season. Spread a layer of organic mulch 3-4 inches deep around the base, keeping it 6 inches away from the trunk. Use slow-release fertilizer in equal measure during spring. Prune damaged branches once a year, but do not heavily prune, which slows screening.

Benefits of Planting Fast-Growing Privacy Trees

Planting trees that grow fast for privacy creates various benefits other than just privacy screening.

Instant Privacy and Noise Mitigation: Thick foliage prevents the unwanted sight after 2-3 seasons instead of 10-15 years. Layered branches and leaves have absorbed sound waves, reducing traffic and noise in the neighborhood by 40-50%.
Wind Protection and Energy Saving: Fast-growing privacy trees planted strategically will form windbreaks that will decrease heating expenses by 10-25 percent in winter. Shade lowers the ambient temperatures surrounding homes and buildings, thereby reducing the cost of summer cooling.
Property Value Improvement: Mature privacy plantings improve property values by 7–15% based on landscape appraisal data. The most preferred features among potential buyers always include established trees.
Environmental Benefits: These trees that grow fast as privacy enhancers help improve the quality of the air by sifting contaminants and generating oxygen. Root systems coupled with soil erosion on slopes avoid soil erosion and sustain microbial diversity underground. It offers a home to birds, pollinators, and useful insects.

Choosing the Right Privacy Trees for Your Property

The privacy trees that grow fast to suit your particular requirements will match up to guarantee a successful screening procedure.

Consider your space needs.

Small yards (Less than 1/4 acre): Northern Privet or Hornbeam Tree
Medium size (1/4 to 2 acres): Willow Oak Seedlings or Box Elder
Large acreage (2+ acres): Perimeter screening flowering American Elm Trees

Quality Willow Oak Seedlings for Sale at Tennessee Nursery

Assess Sun Exposure: Full sun areas (6+ hours/day) will enhance high growth rates of Willow Oak, Box Elder, and American Elm. Northern Privet and Hornbeam Tree adapted to the partial shade (3-6 hours) with healthy growth in the filtered light.

Assess Soil and Drainage: Clay soils of low drainage prefer Box Elder and Hornbeam Tree which can better put up with wet feet compared to the majority of the best fast-growing trees used to achieve privacy.

Plan for Mature Size: Divide by mature width and height. Higher trees such as American Elm and Willow Oak need 25-40 feet between trees, and smaller Northern Privet needs 6-10 feet spacing between hedge-like screens.

To learn more about the native tree choice and ecological landscaping, refer to the work done by the American Horticulture Society.

Conclusion

The fast-growing privacy trees are an excellent, green investment for Tennessee landscapes, providing natural privacy, sound dampening, wind blocking, and rising property values after only a few growing seasons. The Northern Privet, Willow Oak Seedlings, Box Elder, American Elm Trees, and Hornbeam Tree owned by Tennessee Wholesale Nursery are good and flexible sources of privacy to homeowners and landowners. With the right trees chosen to provide privacy for the size of your site and proper establishment techniques, you will make beautiful, practical privacy screens that will beautify your property over the decades.

FAQs

What are the fastest-growing privacy trees for Tennessee?

The Northern Privet, Willow Oak, Box Elder, American Elm, and Hornbeam Tree have a growth of 2-6 feet in one year and grow well in Tennessee's environment and soil.

Which privacy tree grows the fastest?

The American Elm Trees will grow the most, at a rate of 3-6 feet per year, and then the Willow Oak will grow at 24-36 inches per year, and this will be in the optimum Tennessee environment.

What is the fastest-growing plant for privacy?

Northern Privet has the fastest screening rate of 2-3 feet per year and thick foliage; hence, it can be used as an excellent privacy shield.

How long does it take for privacy trees to form a screen?

When properly cared for, spaced, and provided with a suitable growing environment, most fast-growing privacy trees in Tennessee can form effective screening within 2 to 4 years.

What is the best time to plant privacy trees?

Planting of bare-root trees should be done in late winter to early spring (February-April); planting of container-grown trees may be done spring through fall.