Ontario backyard planning guide

Best Trees for Backyard Privacy in Ontario: 7 Options Compared

For most compact GTA yards, Emerald Cedar is a strong privacy hedge choice when there is adequate light, drainage and watering. But larger, shadier, windier or drier properties may call for a different evergreen. Compare seven options below before buying.

Updated November 3, 2026 · Ontario and Greater Toronto Area · Approx. 9 minute read

Illustrative NorthCedar privacy hedge image. Mature size and performance depend on cultivar and site.

Quick answer: which privacy tree should you pick?

Choose Emerald Cedar for a narrow, orderly fence-line screen with good drainage. Choose Eastern White Cedar for a more natural Ontario native hedge. Choose spruce only when you have substantial width. Consider yew or hemlock for certain sheltered, partially shaded sites. Green Giant needs especially careful checks of mature width and local winter hardiness.

Seven privacy trees compared

Tree	Best use	Space needed	Light
Emerald Cedar	Narrow, formal evergreen hedges	Narrow to moderate	Sun to partial shade
Eastern White Cedar	Native, naturalistic cedar screening	Moderate	Sun to partial shade
Green Giant Arborvitae	Spacious, sheltered yards with room for large trees	Wide	Sun to partial shade
Norway Spruce	Large properties needing tall evergreen screening	Very wide	Mostly sun
Eastern Red Cedar	Sunny, dry or exposed sites with enough room	Moderate to wide	Full sun
Canadian Hemlock	Shadier, sheltered gardens	Moderate to wide	Partial shade
Yew	Clipped hedges in partial shade	Moderate	Part sun to shade

These original illustrations show each tree type as a possible screening design. They are visual concepts, not photographs or scale-accurate botanical identification. Check nursery labels and the mature width of the exact cultivar you purchase.

An illustrated row of narrow upright Emerald Cedars screening an Ontario backyard

1. Emerald Cedar

Narrow, formal evergreen hedges

Illustration of a natural Eastern White Cedar privacy screen with softly irregular foliage

2. Eastern White Cedar

Native, naturalistic cedar screening

Illustration of tall broad Green Giant arborvitae used for privacy on a spacious property

3. Green Giant Arborvitae

Spacious, sheltered yards with room for large trees

Illustration of tall conical Norway spruce trees used as an evergreen privacy screen

4. Norway Spruce

Large properties needing tall evergreen screening

Illustration of Eastern Red Cedar juniper trees on an open sunny property

5. Eastern Red Cedar

Sunny, dry or exposed sites with enough room

Illustration of Canadian Hemlock trees creating a shaded evergreen screen

6. Canadian Hemlock

Shadier, sheltered gardens

Illustration of a dense clipped yew hedge in a residential garden

7. Yew

Clipped hedges in partial shade

1. Emerald Cedar

Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’

A compact columnar cedar suitable for many GTA side yards. Individual trees form an attractive screen but may retain gaps while establishing.

Best for: Narrow, formal evergreen hedges

Important limitation: Needs reliable moisture and drainage; not suitable for wet roots.

Read related NorthCedar guide

2. Eastern White Cedar

Thuja occidentalis

Ontario native evergreen commonly used in shelterbelts and hedges. Often broader and less uniform than an Emerald Cedar cultivar.

Best for: Native, naturalistic cedar screening

Important limitation: Can be browsed heavily by deer and needs shaping for a formal line.

Read related NorthCedar guide

3. Green Giant Arborvitae

Thuja ‘Green Giant’

A vigorous, large-growing arborvitae that can overwhelm compact Toronto lots. Nursery hardiness claims vary, so confirm the planting location and wind exposure before buying.

Best for: Spacious, sheltered yards with room for large trees

Important limitation: Cold exposure and site hardiness must be checked locally; not a universal Ontario choice.

Read related NorthCedar guide

4. Norway Spruce

Picea abies

A tall, dense evergreen appropriate for acreage and broad planting strips rather than a narrow townhouse boundary.

Best for: Large properties needing tall evergreen screening

Important limitation: Wide mature crown; unsuitable directly beside most urban fences.

Read related NorthCedar guide

5. Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana

Despite the name, this is a juniper. Its tolerance for sun and drier soil can suit difficult locations after establishment.

Best for: Sunny, dry or exposed sites with enough room

Important limitation: Form and density vary; avoid poorly drained sites.

Read related NorthCedar guide

6. Canadian Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis

A soft-textured native evergreen that can be sheared as a hedge, but requires a cool, moist, well-drained and protected site.

Best for: Shadier, sheltered gardens

Important limitation: Drought, salt, wind and hemlock woolly adelgid are concerns.

Read related NorthCedar guide

7. Yew

Taxus × media and suitable Taxus cultivars

Dense and tolerant of shaping. Select a cultivar hardy for the exact Ontario location and plant only in well-drained soil.

Best for: Clipped hedges in partial shade

Important limitation: Yew foliage and seeds are poisonous if eaten; avoid accessible areas for pets or children.

Read related NorthCedar guide

How to choose the right tree for your Toronto backyard

Measure the available width. Allow room for mature branches, air movement, fence maintenance and access. A wide spruce is not a substitute for a slim cedar hedge.
Check light throughout the day. Deep shade, especially beneath mature maples, can reduce hedge density. See our shade guide.
Test drainage. Water that remains in a planting hole can damage roots even when the tree tolerates some soil moisture. See our clay soil guide.
Check Ontario winter exposure. Regional conditions differ; salt spray, deer, wind and hardiness vary between Toronto and colder inland locations.
Plan a realistic budget. Tall trees give earlier screening but need more money and careful establishment. Compare planting costs and the tree quantity calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best tree for backyard privacy in Ontario?

Emerald Cedar is a practical starting point for many sunny GTA yards with a narrow planting strip. Wider lots may suit white cedar or spruce; shaded sites may suit a carefully selected hemlock or yew.

Which privacy tree grows fastest in Ontario?

There is no single fastest choice for every site. Green Giant can grow vigorously on suitable sheltered sites, but it becomes large and may not be hardy enough for exposed or colder Ontario locations.

Are evergreen trees better than deciduous trees for privacy?

Evergreens generally provide screening through winter. Deciduous trees can provide excellent seasonal shade and privacy but lose most leaves in autumn.

How many Emerald Cedars do I need for a privacy hedge?

Measure usable hedge length and choose spacing suited to the nursery stock and desired mature width. Use NorthCedar’s cedar hedge calculator to estimate quantity before ordering.

Planning note: Nursery labels, mature widths, cultivar hardiness and local planting rules should be verified for your specific property. Underground utilities should be located before digging. This guide is educational, not an on-site assessment.