Free referral service · South Denver suburbs
Privacy tree planting
A row of spruce, pine or juniper along the fence gives year-round screening. Tell us the length and height you want, and independent local planters will quote it.
Free, no obligation. Independent local tree planting companies contact you with quotes.
- Free for homeowners, no obligation
- Independent local tree planting companies contact you
- You choose who to hire, or no one
- Free to useNo obligation to hire
- South Denver suburbs onlyHighlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker and nearby
- Cited 2026 pricesEvery figure links its source
- Shared only with local tree planting companiesNever sold to data brokers
How this works: Denver Privacy Trees is a free referral service, not a nursery or tree planting contractor. We pass your request to independent local tree planting companies, who may pay us for the referral. They quote, schedule and do the work; check their insurance before you hire. More about us.
Pick trees for the space they will fill
CSU Extension says to check drainage, sun and room for the tree at its mature size before planting. Mature sizes in its table range from Skyrocket juniper at about 15 by 3 feet to Colorado spruce at about 60 by 25 feet, so a blue spruce row needs far more room than a juniper row. See the species guide.
The HRCA's guidelines for Highlands Ranch note that dense coniferous plantings can screen less desirable views, and caution that a homeowner may be liable for damage to a neighbor's property from their trees, so plant a sufficient distance from the property line.
What it costs
From 2026 published lists: a 6 ft spruce or pine runs about $655 to $805 planted, an 8 ft tree about $830 to $1,155, and a 10 ft tree about $1,140 to $1,570 (tree price plus Colorado Tree Farm Nursery's planting charge). Both lists come from nurseries outside the Denver metro (Colorado Springs and Cortez), and Colorado Tree Farm Nursery quotes planting separately outside El Paso County, so treat them as a guide to the market, not a local quote. Try the estimator on the cost page.
What good planting looks like
- A hole 2-3 times as wide as the root ball and no deeper; the root flare 1 inch above grade (Colorado State Forest Service).
- Burlap, twine and wire basket removed from at least the upper 12 inches or two-thirds of the root ball (CSU Extension).
- Mulch 3-4 inches deep, kept back from the trunk; stakes and straps off after one or two growing seasons (CSFS).
- Sod kept out of the planting area (CSU Extension).
Lone Tree's Forestry Plan lists planting too deep and piercing the root ball with stakes as common reasons new trees decline.
Before anyone digs
Colorado 811 says contacting it at least three business days before you dig is the law, and the locate is free. It marks public lines only; sprinkler lines and landscape lighting cable are private and won't be marked.
Questions people ask
How far apart should screen trees go?
It depends on mature width. CSU Extension lists Spartan juniper at about 5 feet wide and Colorado spruce at about 25 feet wide at maturity. Ask each planter what spacing they use and why.
Can I plant along the back fence in Highlands Ranch?
Adding trees isn't on HRCA's list of landscaping that needs approval, but some plans are (for example a lot that adjoins open space, or rock beds). HRCA also says not to plant in drainage swales. See the rules page.
Want real quotes for your job?
One short form. Independent local pros contact you. Free, no obligation.
Related
- Best privacy trees for the south Denver suburbs
- Large evergreen planting
- Privacy tree cost
- Planting rules: HOA, 811 and watering
- Comparing tree planting quotes
Sources
- CSU Extension, Evergreen Trees (fact sheet, Table 1 mature sizes)
- Highlands Ranch Community Association, Residential Improvement Guidelines (adopted October 2024, PDF)
- Colorado Tree Farm Nursery (Colorado Springs), 2026 Retail Tree Price List (PDF, dated 7/16/26)
- Trees of Trail Canyon (Cortez, CO), 2026 Retail Price List and Inventory (PDF)
- Colorado Tree Farm Nursery, Planting or Delivery Charges 2026 (PDF)
- Colorado State Forest Service, Selecting, Planting and Caring for Trees
- CSU Extension, Tree Planting Steps
- City of Lone Tree, Forestry Plan (PDF, 2025)
- Colorado 811, Call or Click Before You Dig
Prices come from the published lists above, not quotes. Your price depends on the trees, access and digging conditions; local companies quote after seeing the yard.