It’s important to use landscape for screening where it’s necessary in your chicken-friendly garden. Assess how small or big a space you need to screen. Landscape for screening comes in many different sizes, shapes, and characteristics. A tall vertical space requires a different plant for screening than a wide, somewhat low space.

Screening landscape functions to hide an area that may be undesirable or an eyesore. Screening is also a form of privacy, such as screening a close neighbor. Screening plants can differentiate your chicken coop and composting area aesthetically from your home and social areas, creating a garden room. Landscape for screening is also beneficial in muffling noise from your chickens, your neighbors, or your social events.

Suggestions for plants used for screening

Factors to consider when planting trees or shrubs for screening:

  • Match your screening space with an appropriate sized tree or shrub.

  • Choose trees and shrubs that are complementary to your garden style.

  • Consider trees or shrubs that protect as well as screen.

  • Know how long your trees and shrubs take to mature, and make sure their height at maturity matches your needs.

Plant examples that screen

Consider the following plants when making a screening space:

  • Bamboo: Bamboo. Giant grasses. Zones vary by species. Many different types, sizes, and characteristics. Bamboo is a good screen, but some types are invasive.

  • Cypress: Cupressus. Evergreen trees. Zones vary by species. Many types of wonderful varieties and sizes. Some varieties can reach 40–60 feet. Need little pruning.

  • Ficus: Ficus. Evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Zones vary by species. Can provide a dense hedge quickly. Can be invasive.

  • Podocarpus: Podocarpus. Evergreen shrubs or trees. Zones vary by species. A very versatile shrub or tree known for its foliage. Can be easily shaped, and grown as a hedge.

  • Privet: Ligustrum japonicum texanum. Evergreen shrub. Zones 7–10. It is a vigorous upright compact shrub with spring white showy flowers, followed by dark black berries. Chickens like these berries. Great for hedges, screens, and as a wind break.