April 9, 2014

Homes with small lots are often close to other homes. A second floor neighbor can often look into the yard next door. This doesn’t leave a lot of privacy. To get privacy, it’s going to take some creative planting or putting up a fence. A fence may work between homes with a bit of distance between them, but won’t block a second-floor bedroom from overlooking the neighbor’s yard. Large houses on small lots are an extreme problem when it comes to privacy. Landscaping is a great way to keep neighbor’s prying eyes out of your yard, but it’s also a noise screen as well.

Hedges
Privacy hedges are perfect for creating a privacy screen between you and the nearest neighbor. They’re great for shading your yard from the street, and provide screening year-round. They absorb noise too. It’s important to understand what kind of hedge you’ll need before planting. The hedges will need to be trimmed, and can grow at various heights depending on the kind of hedge purchased. Tree hedges like Green Giant Arborvitae can grow up to 60 feet tall. Consider the height that is manageable before planting your hedges. Another consideration is the width. Make sure you have enough space for the hedge, and plant accordingly.

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Shade Tree
Trees are a great way to shield a yard from a tall neighboring house. The tree can grow to a large height, which blocks the view from the neighbor. When the property line is layered with large shade trees and smaller plants, the view is blocked from many angles. Carefully consider the type of tree and whether it will overgrow the property line before planting. Birch, beech and elm trees are great shade trees depending on your area. Paper Birch and River Birch are fast growing trees for quick privacy screenings.

Container Plants
Planting large trees or hedges might be impossible for a variety of reasons, but containers can be a perfect solution for screening a patio or deck. This is perfect for apartments or balconies too. Before loading the balcony or patio with containers, think about whether you’d like a few large bushes or flower boxes to create a uniform look. These plants will be blocking sound and sight from neighbors but they are also your decor, so you’ll need to be happy with how they look. The amount of sunlight will directly impact the kind of plants or flowers you choose. Bamboo plants grow large enough to provide floor to ceiling privacy screens. Holly and Junipers are great plants for containers too.

Structures
Panels and pergolas are structures that allow vine plants to climb. This natural screen is perfect for patios and balconies. In many cases, you’ll want a variety of leaf types to make sure there’s always a screen covering no matter what time of the year. While some plants are growing up from the ground, don’t forget plants like Ivy that can be hung from the top to trail down the panel.

Be creative when choosing your privacy plants, but make sure the shrub, tree or plant is one that you can care for and will last throughout the entire year if needed. The climate is a very important consideration.