Where are you located?

tj

Sorry I thought it was in my signature. Upstate NY, Zone 5b

Do you need that privacy all year round? What about midsized trees?

I would love year-round privacy if possible. If not, maybe something that leads out early and drops late?

how ABOUT PIX OF THE YARD.. SIZE OF YARD...oops.. pic from where you might spend your time sitting... aka patio or deck... etc ..

two trees near your sitting area... will solve the issue faster than dozens out near the property line... where it might take decades to grow to the height you need.. redbud.. crabapple... etc....

also.. consider a pergola and garden drapes for immediate impact.. this probably isnt a place where plants will do the job.. anytime soon..

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=pergola+and+garden+drapes&iax=images&ia=images

i presume this really isnt a winter issue.. as to backyard privacy ....as my guess is.. your usually arent sitting out there in winter...

window films are an option for windows you want immediate privacy in ..https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=window+films&iax=images&ia=images

ken

I think you are using 'evergreen' interchangeably with 'conifer'. I don't know what your climate is like but there might be a few hardy broad leaved evergreen trees which would survive your winters. Some Hollies, for example? Magnolias?

What about your previous post on this issue? From the suggestions there, what did you glean, or find unworkable or not useful, in terms of focusing your new post to help advisors?

Hi, yes, maybe I should have just commented on the old post? I’m trying to replicate one of the photo suggestions but hoping to find some evergreens that have less of a conical shape in order to provide the coverage where I need it most. Thanks!

I didn't recall your other post. privacy—filling a gap between neighbors (houzz.com) It's always best to continue a topic on the original thread so people don't waste their time repeating what has already been said, and readers get the whole picture. In this case literally, since the other post had photos of the situation.

My apologies. I thought because I wasn’t asking for landscaping advice this time, just information on which trees might grow in a less conical shape, that it made sense to just ask a quick question in a new thread. I will be more mindful next time.

The more information you can give, the better the advice you will receive. As you see by the follow up questions, there's no such thing as a 'quick question' when you're talking to gardeners 😉! A tree grows within an environment, so there are many variables to take into account before recommending a plant.

There are many conifers that, when mature, have a broad/flat top. The problem with that is, waiting for them to mature. You can, however, choose a fast growing conifer and treat it as a topiary, sculpting the top to become as broad/tall as you want it to be ....... assuming you have the wherewithal/ access to do the pruning. A diminutive example of a Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa Nana'

You could wait for the trees to grow as tall as they need to be to provide the privacy you seek, then start pruning the tops, which will cause them to fill in to a solid foliage mass.

Al