Long Island's #1 choice for privacy trees

Privacy trees straight from the farm.

Skip the nursery markup. Baseball legend Doc Gooden and tree pro Mike grow, pick and plant Green Giants, Emerald Greens, Leyland Cypress and Schip Laurels for homes across Nassau and Suffolk.

Book a free estimateTakes 30 seconds. Always free. Call 631-219-0967

Mike comes to your home, walks the yard and gives you a price on the spot. No pressure.

A tall row of Green Giant arborvitae screening a backyard

Emerald Green arborvitae lining a front walk

Schip Laurel trees balled and ready to plant at the farm

Farm-direct pricesDeal with the grower, not a middleman.
Free estimatesAt your home, on your schedule.
Signed by DocFree autographed memorabilia with every planting.
Nassau & SuffolkNearly 300 towns served.

Doc Gooden and the team holding signed baseballs by a backyard pool

Mike and Doc Gooden laughing under a patio umbrella

Meet the team

Doc brings the name. Mike brings the trees.

Dwight "Doc" Gooden won the 1985 Cy Young Award and the 1986 World Series. Now he's on a new team.

Doc partnered with Mike, a Long Island tree pro with more than 25 years of picking and planting experience, to launch Doc Gooden's Privacy Tree Farm in Dix Hills. Mike runs the farm, the trees and the crew. He'll walk your yard, tell you what will grow there and give you a straight price.

Plant with Doc, get a souvenir Every planting comes with free autographed Doc Gooden memorabilia.

Book a free estimate Call Mike 631-219-0967

Pick your privacy tree

Four trees. Year-round privacy.

These are the evergreens Long Island homeowners ask for most. Not sure which fits your yard? We'll recommend one at your free estimate based on sun, soil and how fast you want the screen to fill in.

Green Giant Arborvitae

Thuja 'Green Giant'

Grows: 3–4 ft / yr
Height: 50–60 ft
Spread: 12–20 ft
Spacing: 5–6 ft

Best for: a tall screen, fast. Handles wind, ice and snow, with better deer resistance than most arborvitae.

Read about the Green Giant →

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'

Grows: 1–2 ft / yr
Height: 7–15 ft
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 2 ft

Best for: tight hedges and smaller yards. Stays bright green all winter and takes pruning well.

Read about the Emerald Green →

Leyland Cypress

× Cuprocyparis leylandii

Grows: 3–4 ft / yr
Height: 40+ ft
Spread: 15–25 ft
Spacing: 6–10 ft

Best for: dense, soft screens in almost any soil. Prune once a year when used as a hedge.

Read about the Leyland Cypress →

Schip Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis'

Grows: 1–2 ft / yr
Height: 10–15 ft
Sun: Sun to shade
Spacing: 3–4 ft

Best for: shady spots and a lush, glossy hedge. Deer resistant and blocks noise.

Read about the Schip Laurel →

How it works

From first call to finished screen

Call or book online
Tell us what you're trying to block and roughly how long the run is.
We visit your yard
We check sun, soil, spacing and drainage, then give you a written price. Free.
We pick your trees
Hand-selected at the farm at the height you want, so you pay wholesale.
We plant and set you up
Our crew plants, adds free organic fertilizer and can install a soaker hose so they take root.

Services

We plant it, then help it thrive

Privacy trees are the main event, but we take care of them long after the truck leaves.

Privacy trees

Planting
An experienced crew, free high-grade organic fertilizer, plus berms and planting beds built to order.
Soaker hose watering system
Slow, deep watering along the whole row. It's the easiest way to keep new trees alive the first year.
Trimming, shaping and removal
Keep Green Giants, Leylands and Emerald Greens full and neat, or clear out what's dead. Full cleanup included.
See trimming

Tree and lawn health

Fertilization
Spring and fall programs to keep color deep and growth steady.
Winterization
Protect evergreens from winter burn, wind, snow load and salt.
See winter care
Lawn care: Field of Greens
A soil test and a custom treatment plan, with an organic option that's safe for kids and pets.
See lawn care

Balled arborvitae delivered to a new home, ready to plant

Landscaping

Finish the whole yard

Planting with us? We can take care of the rest of the project too, all priced at the same free estimate.

Landscape designA plan for beds, plantings and privacy, drawn around your yard.
MasonryPatios, walkways and retaining walls.
IrrigationSprinkler and drip systems that keep everything watered.
Sod and artificial turfAn instant lawn, real or low-maintenance.
Fencing and gradingLevel the ground and set the fence line before you plant.

Seasonal

Holiday lighting We'll light up your home and trees for the holidays. First-time customers save 10%.

Ask about lighting

Don't pay nursery or landscaper prices

Buy straight from the farm and save. Already have a landscape design? Bring it to us and we'll price it out.

Get my free quote

Our work

Real yards, real privacy

A few recent jobs from around Long Island.

Emerald Green arborvitae planted along a curving front walk

New arborvitae going in beside a freshly built house

Leyland Cypress screen along a backyard property line

Evergreen border with flowering shrubs along a driveway

Long planting bed of evergreens, hydrangeas and perennials

A clipped evergreen hedge forming a solid green wall

Wide backyard lawn framed by planted borders

Service areas

All of Nassau and Suffolk

From Elmont to Montauk, we deliver and plant across Long Island, including the North and South Forks and Shelter Island.

NassauGreat Neck, Garden City, Massapequa, Oyster Bay and more

SuffolkHuntington, Smithtown, Riverhead, the Hamptons and more

Do we cover your town?

Type your town to check.

Don't see it? Call anyway. If you're close, we'll usually make it work.

Grown and hand-picked on Long Island

Meet the trees behind the privacy.

Every tree we plant comes off our own farm. Here's where each one came from, what it does best, and how to pick the right one for your yard.

Green Giant Emerald Green Leyland Cypress Schip Laurel Compare side by side

The fast one

Green Giant Arborvitae

Thuja standishii × plicata 'Green Giant'

Grows: 3–4 ft/yr
Height: 50–60 ft
Spread: 12–20 ft
Spacing: 5–6 ft

Where it came from

Green Giant is a cross between a Japanese arborvitae and the Western red cedar of the Pacific Northwest. It came from the D.T. Poulsen nursery in Denmark, which sent it to the U.S. National Arboretum in 1967. It reached American growers in the 1990s and quickly became the go-to tree for anyone who wants privacy without waiting a decade.

What it's good for

Tall screens that block a neighbor's second story or a busy road
Windbreaks. It stands up to wind, ice and heavy snow once established
Yards with deer, since it holds up better than most arborvitae
Low upkeep. It needs little or no pruning and has no serious pest or disease problems

Good to know

It gets wide, so give it room. Plant 5 to 6 feet apart for a hedge, and keep it a few feet off the fence line.

Get a price on Green Giants

The neat one

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'

Grows: 1–2 ft/yr
Height: 7–15 ft
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 2 ft

Where it came from

Emerald Green is a selection of American arborvitae, a tree native to the Northeast. The name arborvitae means "tree of life." French explorers gave it that name in the 1500s after Native Americans used it to cure them of scurvy. This compact variety was picked out at the D.T. Poulsen nursery in Denmark in 1950 and named Smaragd, Danish for emerald.

What it's good for

Clean, narrow hedges in smaller yards and side lots
Lining walkways, driveways and pool fences
Holding its bright green color all winter, with no bronzing
Shaping. It takes pruning well if you want a formal look

Good to know

It grows slower than a Green Giant, so buying taller trees up front gets you privacy sooner. We'll help you pick the right height at your estimate.

Get a price on Emerald Greens

The soft one

Leyland Cypress

× Cuprocyparis leylandii

Grows: 3–4 ft/yr
Height: 40+ ft
Spread: 15–25 ft
Spacing: 6–10 ft

Where it came from

The Leyland Cypress started as a happy accident. In 1888, on an estate in Wales, a Monterey cypress and an Alaska cedar crossed on their own. The seedlings were named after C.J. Leyland, the man who first grew them out. Today it's one of the most planted privacy trees in the country.

What it's good for

Fast, full screens with soft, feathery foliage
Growing in a wide range of soils and conditions
Dense year-round color around homes, schools and parks
Shaping. It handles repeated pruning and trimming

Good to know

Used as a hedge, it wants a trim once a year. Give it good airflow and don't crowd it, and it will stay healthy and thick.

Get a price on Leylands

The shady one

Schip Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis'

Grows: 1–2 ft/yr
Height: 10–15 ft
Sun: Sun to shade
Spacing: 3–4 ft

Where it came from

Schip Laurel, also sold as Skip Laurel or Schipka cherry laurel, is a cold-hardy cherry laurel. Its botanical name, 'Schipkaensis', means "from Shipka," after the Shipka Pass in Bulgaria's Balkan Mountains. That mountain toughness is why it handles Long Island winters better than most laurels.

What it's good for

Shady yards where arborvitae struggle
Thick, glossy hedges that look rich all year
Blocking street noise as well as views
Deer country. Deer tend to leave it alone

Good to know

It's a broadleaf evergreen, so it looks more like a lush hedge than a row of trees. It takes trimming well, and it puts out small white flowers in spring.

Get a price on Schip Laurels

Side by side

Which tree fits your yard?

	Green Giant	Emerald Green	Leyland Cypress	Schip Laurel
Growth	3–4 ft per year	1–2 ft per year	3–4 ft per year	1–2 ft per year
Mature size	50–60 ft tall, 12–20 ft wide	7–15 ft tall, narrow	40+ ft tall, 15–25 ft wide	10–15 ft tall, 5–7 ft wide
Spacing	5–6 ft apart	2 ft apart	6–10 ft apart	3–4 ft apart
Upkeep	Little to no pruning	Prune for shape if you like	Trim yearly as a hedge	Trims easily, any shape
Pick it if	You want height, fast	You have a smaller space	You want a soft, full screen	Your yard is shady

Winter care for evergreens

Don't let winter burn your trees.

Our Fall Fertilizer & Winter Protective Spray program keeps evergreens fed and sealed against wind, ice, sleet and snow, so you don't wake up to orange and brown trees in spring. You don't have to be a customer to sign up.

Get a winterization quote 631-219-0967

What is winter burn?

Your trees are thirsty all winter

Evergreens keep their needles all year, so they keep losing water all year too.

In winter the ground freezes and roots can't pull up water to replace what wind and sun dry out of the foliage. The needles dry out and turn brown or bronze, usually on the side facing the wind or the afternoon sun. That's winter burn.

The damage happens in January and February, but most people don't see it until early spring. By then it's too late to prevent, and badly burned trees can take a season or more to fill back in.

"Last winter was especially brutal on evergreens. Many customers who skipped winter protection saw serious burn and orange-brown damage in the spring."

Jenette, Doc Gooden's Privacy Tree Farm

Trees most at risk

Newly planted trees. Roots aren't established yet, so the first two or three winters are the riskiest.
Arborvitae. Green Giants and Emerald Greens are tough, but young ones burn easily.
Open, windy spots. Corner lots, water views and rows with no wind cover.
Trees by the road. Salt spray from plows dries and browns the side facing the street.
Trees that went into winter dry. A dry fall is the biggest setup for burn.

Our winter services

How we protect your evergreens

Book the full program or just what your trees need.

Mid-December

Winter protective spray

A waxy anti-desiccant coating that seals moisture into needles and leaves and shields them from wind, ice, sleet and snow. It's the best defense against spring burn, and it works on shrubs too.

October – November

Fall fertilizer

Feeds roots before the ground freezes, so your trees go into winter strong and push thick new growth in spring.

Fall

Trimming and shaping

Fall is the ideal time to shape Green Giants, Leylands and Emerald Greens for full, dense growth. Full cleanup included.

Late fall

Deep watering and mulch

A long soak and a fresh layer of mulch before the freeze keep roots hydrated and insulated.

Before the first storm

Burlap and tie-ups

Wind screens for exposed rows and tie-ups so heavy snow can't split arborvitae open.

Holiday season

Holiday lighting

We'll light up your home and trees for the season. First-time customers save 10%.

Sign up and prepay, save 20%Lock in this season's Fall Fertilizer & Winter Protective Spray at a discount.

Reserve my spot

The winter calendar

When it all happens

Oct – NovDeep watering, mulch and fall fertilizer while the ground is still soft.
Early DecBurlap, wind screens and tie-ups go on before the first storm.
Mid-DecProtective spray goes on as temperatures settle below freezing.
Jan – FebBrush heavy snow off gently. Keep salt away from root zones.
Mar – AprSpring check-up, cleanup and feeding.

Not a customer? No problem.

We winterize trees no matter who planted them. If you have evergreens on Long Island, we'll protect them.

Book my winterization

Common questions

Winter burn FAQ

My trees are already brown. Will they come back?

Often, yes. If the buds and twigs are still alive, new growth usually fills in by late spring. Scratch a twig with your fingernail. Green underneath is a good sign. Call us and we'll take a look.

When is it too late to spray?

The spray works best in mid-December, once it's cold but before the worst wind. A second coat in late winter can help in exposed spots. Call us even in January and we'll tell you if it's still worth it.

Does the spray hurt the tree?

No. It's a breathable, waxy film that wears off on its own in spring as new growth comes in.

Do I need all of these services?

Usually not. A young row in a windy spot might need spray and burlap. An established hedge might only need spray and a good fall soak. We'll tell you what your trees actually need.

Doc Gooden's Field of Greens

Major league results for your lawn.

Turning every lawn into a field of green. Our lawn program starts with a soil test, not guesswork, so your grass gets exactly what it needs.

Book a free lawn evaluation 631-219-0967

How it works

From patchy to ballpark green

Free lawn evaluation
We walk your lawn and look for weeds, thinning, bare spots and soil problems.
Professional soil sample
We test the soil so the plan fits your lawn, not a one-size-fits-all bag.
Custom treatment plan
Fertilizer, weed control and seeding timed to the season and your soil.
Greener, thicker grass
We keep adjusting through the season until it looks its best.

Curved lawn bordered by stone edging and colorful plantings

Lawn and evergreen border along a driveway

Organic program

Ask about our organic lawn program. It's safe for kids and pets.

Already a tree customer?

You know how we take care of your trees. Our tree clients get preferred pricing on lawn programs.

Lawn and trees, one crew

One call covers your privacy trees, shrubs and lawn, all from the same team.

Book my free evaluation

Evergreen trimming and shaping

Keep your screen full and sharp.

Overgrown, uneven or losing its shape? We trim and shape Green Giants, Leyland Cypress, Emerald Greens and Schip Laurels so they stay thick, healthy and neat. Full cleanup included.

Get trimming pricing 631-219-0967

Why trim?

A trimmed tree is a thicker tree

Shaping does more than make a row look neat. It tells the tree where to put its energy.

Each cut pushes new growth back toward the inside of the tree, which fills in gaps and makes the screen denser. Regular shaping also keeps height and width in check, so your privacy row doesn't swallow the walkway or the neighbor's fence.

Trimming clears out dead and damaged branches too, which opens up airflow and helps keep disease away.

Signs it's time

The row looks uneven. Some trees are taller or wider than their neighbors.
It's getting thin. Gaps or see-through spots near the bottom.
It's taking over. Branches crowding the fence, driveway or walkway.
There's brown or dead wood. Storm damage or old winter burn that needs to come out.
It's lost its shape. A hedge that used to look clean now looks shaggy.

What we do

Trimming services

Shaping and hedging

Clean lines and an even row, natural or formal, the way you like it.

Height and width control

Keep tall screens at the height you want without hurting the tree.

Dead branch removal

Cut out storm damage, brown patches and dead wood so healthy growth fills in.

Tree removal

Take out dead or failing trees and get the spot ready for a replacement.

Complete cleanup

We haul away every clipping and leave your property neat and clean.

Customer pricing

Already planted with us? Existing customers get special trimming pricing.

Tree by tree

How we trim each tree

Tree	How much trimming	What we focus on
Green Giant	Light. Needs little to no pruning.	Evening out the row and keeping width off the fence line.
Emerald Green	Light to moderate.	Shearing for a clean, formal hedge and a tidy top.
Leyland Cypress	Once a year as a hedge.	Keeping it dense and in bounds, with good airflow.
Schip Laurel	Moderate. Trims easily.	Shaping after the spring bloom to keep the hedge thick.

Trimming routes fill up fastCall or request pricing now to get your property on the schedule.

Reserve my spot

Free, no-obligation estimate

Get your free estimate

Tell us a little about your yard. Mike will call to set up a visit, walk the property with you and give you a price on the spot.

Tell us about your project

Takes about 30 seconds. Only name and phone are required.

Name

Phone

Town

Email (optional)

What can we help with?

Privacy trees Trimming & shaping Winter protection Lawn care Holiday lighting Not sure yet

Best time to call

When do you want to start?

Anything we should know? (optional)

No cost, no obligation. We never share your info.

Estimate questions

Good to know

Is the estimate really free?

Yes. We come out, look at your yard and give you a price. There's no charge and no obligation to book.

What should I have ready?

Just a rough idea of how long the area is and how tall you want the screen. We'll measure and handle the rest.

Do you come to my town?

We serve nearly 300 towns across Nassau and Suffolk. Check your town, or just call and ask.

Privacy trees straight from the farm.

Doc brings the name. Mike brings the trees.

Four trees. Year-round privacy.

Green Giant Arborvitae

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Leyland Cypress

Schip Laurel

From first call to finished screen

Call or book online

We visit your yard

We pick your trees

We plant and set you up

We plant it, then help it thrive

Planting

Soaker hose watering system

Trimming, shaping and removal

Fertilization

Winterization

Lawn care: Field of Greens

Finish the whole yard

Don't pay nursery or landscaper prices

Real yards, real privacy

All of Nassau and Suffolk

Meet the trees behind the privacy.

Green Giant Arborvitae

Where it came from

What it's good for

Good to know

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Where it came from

What it's good for

Good to know

Leyland Cypress

Where it came from

What it's good for

Good to know

Schip Laurel

Where it came from

What it's good for

Good to know

Which tree fits your yard?

Don't let winter burn your trees.

Your trees are thirsty all winter

Trees most at risk

How we protect your evergreens

Winter protective spray

Fall fertilizer

Trimming and shaping

Deep watering and mulch

Burlap and tie-ups

Holiday lighting

When it all happens

Not a customer? No problem.

Winter burn FAQ

Major league results for your lawn.

From patchy to ballpark green

Free lawn evaluation

Professional soil sample

Custom treatment plan

Greener, thicker grass

Organic program

Already a tree customer?

Lawn and trees, one crew

Keep your screen full and sharp.

A trimmed tree is a thicker tree

Signs it's time

Trimming services

Shaping and hedging

Height and width control

Dead branch removal

Tree removal

Complete cleanup

Customer pricing

How we trim each tree

Get your free estimate

Tell us about your project

Good to know

Let's block the view

Request a free estimate