EVERGREENS FOR SCREENING

September 22, 2026 Karen Logan

EVERGREENS

FOR SCREENING, BEAUTY AND FUNCTION

Evergreens retain their foliage for a full year or more and are classified as either conifers or broadleaf evergreens. Conifers belong to the phylum gymnosperms which are plants that bear cones instead of flowers as reproductive structures. Their leaves are called needles or scales and are adaptations for survival in tough windy drought conditions, like on top of mountains. While broadleaf evergreens belong to the phylum Angiosperms (flowering plants) and produce flowers and seeds. Both conifers and broadleaf evergreens are a wonderful and highly functional asset to your landscape, especially when privacy is a goal.

Screening is one of the most requested landscape functions.

This can seem like a very simple request however from the grower’s perspective it is much more complex and dependent on budget and environment.

*Layered screening with large Thuja plicatas that give wonderful privacy*

BUDGET & TIMELINE

How much you have to spend on screening directly correlates to the amount of time it will take to achieve your end goal. The bigger the tree, shrub, or grass, the more expensive it is and the more labor intensive it is to install. Large transplants can take a couple of years to re-establish their root systems.However, faster growing plants are not always an ideal option. A fast growing plant can be weak wooded, susceptible to high winds or winter ice damage, or prone to outgrowing their space entirely. The most economical and resilient strategy is to start your screening "vision" with smaller plants that can quickly establish themselves backed by slower-growing structural evergreens.

ENVIRONMENT & MICROCLIMATE

The Island may be small but it is remarkably diverse in terrain and habitats. What would work for a screen in Vineyard Haven will not necessarily work for screening in Chilmark. Soil types, sun exposure, and local wildlife play massive roles in plant decisions.

Deer Pressure: High up-island deer populations require careful plant selection.
Soil Variations: Sandy coastal soils dry out quickly (Oak Bluffs), while low-lying clay soils can trap moisture and cause poor drainage that slowly stresses root systems.
Water Compatibility: Matching the plant to the soil moisture is critical. Planting a drought-loving juniper in a damp, heavy clay area, for instance, sets it up for failure.

It helps to remember that what you see above ground is only half of the plant, what goes on below is perhaps even more important.

Conifers

Picea abies (Norway Spruce): A reliable, fast growing evergreen averaging about 13 inches per year! It adapts wonderfully to island growing conditions and tolerates acidic, loamy, sandy, well-drained, and even clay soils.
Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland Cypress): A powerhouse screen growing at least 24 inches per year. It handles island conditions well, though it should be avoided directly on the waterfront where heavy salt spray and high winds can cause irreversible damage.

Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine): A classic native beauty that prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil and adds a soft texture while growing at least 24 inches a year.
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant' (Western Arborvitae): We have been carrying this cultivar for years. This specific variety can get up to 60' tall! Many use arborvitae as screening for privacy on their properties, as well as a windbreaker. We have them in several sizes.
Thuja plicata 'Virginian' (Virginian Arborvitae): A smaller newer cultivar growing 15' tall x 6' wide in ten years(with a steady 1-to-2-foot annual growth rate). It is known to be deer-resistant and compact for tight screening needs. We offer three different sizes up to 9 feet.

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Broadleaf Evergreens

Broadleaf evergreens make magnificent, texturally rich privacy screens, and they excel in areas with partial shade.

Hollies (Ilex): Tough, glossy, and brilliant for privacy and winter color.
Rhododendrons: Offer lush foliage, stunning spring blooms, and year-round structure.
Cherry Laurels: Dense, fast-establishing, and classic.
Andromedas (Pieris): Provide early spring blooms and delicate, year-round foliage.
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Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Pinpoint Blue’

The Benefits of Evergreens

Year-Round Interest: Gives the landscaper structure year round and stays green even through the dead of winter.
Privacy & Windbreaks: Block unwanted views and buffer cold seasonal winds.
Wildlife Habitat: Offer critical shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals.
Resilience: Exceptionally drought-resistant once their root systems are established.
Climate Suitability: Perfectly adapted to Martha’s Vineyard's climate zone (traditionally zone 7A, with many varieties proving even hardier)

Stop by Vineyard Gardens to find the perfect evergreens for your screening project and let our team help you create privacy that lasts for generations!

WOODLAND RETREAT SCREENING

SCREENING FOR NATURAL PRIVACY

ODE TO AUTUMN

SCREENING FOR NATURAL PRIVACY

May 15, 2026 Karen Logan

Screening for Natural Privacy

Balancing Budget, Environment, and Aesthetics

Screening is one of the most frequently requested landscape functions we encounter. From a homeowner’s perspective, the request seems simple: “I need privacy from my neighbors.” However, from a designer and grower’s perspective, creating a successful, long-lasting living wall is a beautiful but complex puzzle.

To understand how we approach this challenge, we look at a recent Island project, followed by the core principles that dictate a successful screening design.

A Recent Client Scenario: Instant Restoration

Over the winter, a client watched as their neighbor’s property was cleared for the construction of a new, two-story house. Overnight, their front yard, once a mature, oak forest, was transformed into an open construction site. The clients reached out to Vineyard Gardens to help them restore the natural privacy they were accustomed to.

The Solution: Vineyard Gardens collaborated with Maciel Land and Tree to bring back the natural barrier. Utilizing Maciel’s giant 90-inch diameter tree spade, we successfully transplanted five mature, 20-foot Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar) directly into the void. The result was seamless; this new screen looks as though the trees have been growing there for decades, providing instant natural relief and peace of mind.

While a large-scale transplant is the ultimate instant fix, every property requires a tailored approach based on three critical factors: Budget, Environment, and Taste.

A couple of years later once established

1. The Budget: Time vs. Money

Privacy is a universal need regardless of budget, but your financial investment directly correlates to the time it will take to achieve your end goal.

The larger the tree, shrub, or grass, the more expensive it is to source and the more labor-intensive it is to install. Furthermore, even very large transplants require a couple of years of dedicated care to re-establish their supporting root systems.
Homeowners are often tempted to choose the fastest-growing plants available. However, fast-growing varieties are often weak-wooded, making them highly susceptible to high winds and winter storm damage, or they can become invasive, quickly outgrowing their intended footprint.

The Economical Choice: Often, the hardiest and most economical solution is to start your screening vision with smaller, high-quality plants that can quickly adapt to the native soil and rapidly establish themselves.

2. The Environment: Above and Below Ground

Martha's Vineyard may be small, but it features an incredibly diverse range of microclimates and habitats. A plant that creates a flawless screen in Vineyard Haven yard will not necessarily survive in Chilmark.

When designing a living screen, remember that what you see above ground is only half the plant; what happens below is even more critical.

Soil Types: The sandy, nutrient-poor soils of Oak Bluffs drain instantly, while other pockets of the Island feature heavy clay soils that retain water and can slowly suffocate new roots.
Moisture Levels: Ample groundwater is a blessing for some species, but it will quickly cause root rot in drought-loving plants like Juniper.
The Browse Line: Deer pressure varies heavily across the Island. Up-island, heavy deer browsing can decimate certain evergreen screens in a single winter.

3. Taste vs. Practicality: Cultivating Flexibility

When walking through the nursery, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the beautiful varieties on display. But while we may carry 15 different types of evergreens, your specific site conditions might dictate that only 3 or 4 will actually thrive.

Success requires observing your unique growing conditions and remaining flexible in your aesthetic expectations:

Sun vs. Shade: If planted in the shade, sun-loving Junipers will languish for years before dying. Conversely, if planted in full sun and exposed to high winds, classic Arborvitae will scorch and lose their uniform shape.
The Deer Workaround: If you have high deer pressure, native American Hollies (Ilex opaca) are an excellent shade-tolerant choice, but deer will often defoliate them up to the 4 to 5 foot "browse line" over the winter. To counter this, we recommend pairing Hollies with an under-planting of Clethra (Summersweet) or Winterberry, both of which are shade-tolerant, deer-resistant, deciduous native shrubs that elegantly fill the lower gaps where the deer nibble.

Carpinus as a hedge (at Cronig's up-Island)

The Deciduous Alternative for Summer Residents

If you primarily live on the Island during the summer season, you don't necessarily need a dense evergreen. Deciduous screening options offer exceptional texture, faster establishment, and beautiful seasonal transitions:

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata'): A stunning, upright deciduous tree that forms a dense, natural-looking screen in just a few years, even when starting from a smaller, economical plant size. They also transplant beautifully as larger specimens, offering a solution for every pocketbook.
Native American Beech (Fagus grandifolia): A highly dependable native screening tree. Beeches naturally hold onto their lower branches, and once leafed out, they provide an impenetrable summer screen. As an added bonus, they tend to hold onto their dried, warm-copper fall foliage throughout the winter (marcescence), extending their screening utility deep into the off-season.

Let Us Help You Design & Install Your Screen

Whether you need an immediate intervention or a thoughtful, budget-friendly blueprint using smaller native species, the landscape team at Vineyard Gardens is here to help you navigate the process. Every property on the Island is unique, and selecting the right plant for the right place is the key. We will work with you to analyze your soil, evaluate your light, and choose the perfect palette for your property.

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GARDENIAS

May 4, 2026 Karen Logan

GARDENIAS

for MOTHER’S DAY!

Gardenia jasminoides

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Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Gardenias are a timeless choice: beautiful, fragrant, and versatile. Their lush white blooms and rich scent add elegance to any garden, patio, or porch.

GARDENIA HIGHLIGHTS

Sizes Available: 1-gallon, 2-gallon, and 5-gallon. Ideal for gifts or landscape projects
Growth & Care: Grows up to 5 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide. Prefers full sun to partial shade. Keep soil moist but not soggy.
Bloom Time: Late spring into early summer. Right in time for Mother’s Day!
Deer Resistant: A reliable option for deer-prone areas.
Year-Round Appeal: Shiny, deep green foliage looks great all year.
Great for Events: Popular in floral arrangements and wedding bouquets

VERSATILE USES

As a hedge or privacy screen
In containers on patios or porches
Trained as a patio tree
Cut blooms for flower arrangements or events

Gardenias offer both beauty and fragrance, a lasting gift for Mother’s Day or a charming addition to your own landscape.

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MAY GARDEN TIPS

Learn About : SPRING BLOOMS & POLLINATORS