There are many good reasons to plant trees along a fence line. A row of well-placed trees can dampen the noise of a nearby street while providing you with an additional privacy screen. Trees along a fence line can also provide both you and your neighbours with shade and a hint of natural beauty.

Before you select your trees, however, you need to remember that many tree species are unsuitable for planting near fences, paths or buildings.

As a result, you would be wise to consider the following points before choosing a tree species:

Consider How the Tree Grows Above Ground

The fastest way to create a border of trees along your fence line would be to purchase young trees from a reputable wholesale nursery. However, before you purchase your trees, you should first do some research. How will your trees grow above ground? Will their canopies become so large that they extend into your neighbour's garden?

If you wish to plant quite close to the fence line, go for tall, narrow trees like pencil pines and Norway spruces, as these will grow upward rather than upward and sideways as most trees do.

The last thing you need is a dispute with your neighbours because your trees are dropping detritus into their garden. They would be well within their rights to remove invading branches.

Consider How the Tree Grows Below Ground

When planting near your fence line, you'll need to choose trees with fence-friendly root systems. Remember, once many tree species reach maturity, their root system could be up to 4 times the width of their canopy.

It doesn't take an arborist to realize that a large root system could well become the bane of both your fence and your neighbour's garden.

Avoid trees with shallow root systems, like the silver maple, as these can damage your fence and any other nearby structures. You should also avoid trees that love water, such as willow trees, as their roots could end up entering your neighbour's yard to invade their water pipes and septic tank.

Hire an Arborist to Assess Your Yard

The surest way to guarantee that you select the right trees for your fence line is to hire an arborist to assess your yard first. An experienced arborist can test your soil along the fence line to ascertain the soil type and its nutrient content. This will then enable them to suggest an appropriate tree species based on your soil type. If you plant the wrong tree in the wrong soil, it may struggle to grow and flourish.

An arborist can also suggest tree species based on how much land and space is available to them, and plant them for you to ensure that they receive the best start possible.

Trees make excellent noise dampeners and privacy screens when coupled with an existing fence line. However, don't choose your tree type until you have done your research, or you have hired an arborist to assess your yard.