Sharp Landscaping
Planting Guide
Layouts
Planting Styles
The right layout depends on your space, the varieties you choose and how quickly you want the area to fill in. These are common arrangements. The pictures are simple plan views, not exact spacings.
Straight-row privacy planting Straight-row privacy planting
One line of evergreens along a fence or property line. It uses the fewest trees and the least room, so it suits narrow spaces.
Staggered privacy planting Staggered privacy planting
Two offset rows, with each tree set in the gap of the row in front of it. It makes a deeper, fuller screen but needs more trees and more width.
Natural groupings Natural groupings
Trees planted in loose clusters of different sizes for a softer, more natural look than a straight line.
Ornamental tree arrangements Ornamental tree arrangements
A single ornamental tree, or a small group, set as a focal point in a bed, often with shrubs around it.
Mixed tree and shrub landscaping Mixed tree and shrub landscaping
Taller trees toward the back with shrubs in front, to add layers and variety through the seasons.
Tell us about your space and we will talk through which layout fits.
Spacing
Tree Spacing Guide
There is no single spacing that suits every tree. How far apart to plant depends on:
- The species
- Its mature height and width
- How much privacy you want, and how soon
- The growth rate
- The space available
- Property boundaries
- Nearby structures
The planting distances in the table below are typical figures from university extension programs and botanical gardens, as recorded for each variety. Where no distance is listed for a variety, we confirm it for your site rather than guess.
| Variety | Typical planting distance | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Green Giant Arborvitae | 5–6 ft apart for a screen | NC State Extension, Missouri Botanical Garden, Penn State Extension, Morton Arboretum |
| Emerald Green Arborvitae | About 3–4 ft apart for a single-row screen | Missouri Botanical Garden, Morton Arboretum, Penn State Extension, Illinois Extension, American Conifer Society |
Planting depth and mulch
Aftercare
Caring for Your New Trees
Open a topic below to read more. Watering, fertilizing and timing all depend on the tree, the site and the weather.
Watering Your New Trees
Our Watering Recommendations
- After planting: Water thoroughly and monitor soil moisture regularly during the first several weeks.
- During winter: If there has been little rain or snow, check the soil every week. Water deeply when the root area begins to dry out.
- Before a freeze: If the soil is dry and freezing temperatures are expected, give your trees a deep watering before the freeze arrives.
- During freezing weather: Avoid watering frozen ground. Wait until temperatures rise above freezing and the soil can absorb water.
- Avoid overwatering: Too much water can be just as harmful as too little, especially in poorly drained clay soil.
How often to water depends on rainfall, drainage, soil conditions, tree size, and weather.
Remember: Proper watering during the first year is one of the most important things you can do to help your new trees thrive!
Fertilizing Your Newly Planted Trees
Give your trees time to establish their roots before fertilizing. When a tree is first planted, its priority is developing a strong, healthy root system.
- Our recommendation: Avoid fertilizing immediately after planting.
- Allow your trees time to establish their root systems, often through their first growing season.
- If fertilizer is needed, early spring is generally a good time to apply it.
Fertilizing too soon, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizers, can encourage rapid growth of new leaves and branches before the roots are fully established. This can place additional stress on your new trees.
Fertilizer decisions should consider soil testing, the species, and the nutrients a tree actually needs.
Remember: Healthy roots are the foundation of healthy trees. Give your new trees time to settle in and grow strong!
Why Fall & Winter Are Ideal for Planting
Fall through early spring can be an excellent planting period for many trees in Middle Tennessee.
- Cooler temperatures reduce heat stress.
- Reduced demand for water compared with hot summer conditions.
- Roots may continue developing while soil temperatures remain suitable.
- Trees have an opportunity to establish before summer heat arrives.
- Dormant-season planting can be beneficial for many deciduous trees.
The species, soil conditions, frozen ground, and weather determine whether winter planting is appropriate.
Our plants
Where Do We Get Our Trees and Plants?
At Sharp Landscaping, we are not a traditional retail nursery, so we do not have a location where customers can come and browse plants.
Instead, we take a more personalized approach. We travel beyond Williamson County to work with nurseries and growers throughout Tennessee and neighboring states, sourcing quality trees and plants at competitive prices.
The trees and plants we offer are grown at nurseries across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
By sourcing directly from a variety of nurseries, we are able to offer our customers a wider selection of healthy, quality plants at great prices.
Our goal is simple: to provide beautiful, healthy trees and plants at affordable prices, along with professional planting services.
Ready when you are
We work across Williamson County, and within 60 miles of Franklin, Tennessee.