If you live in a neighborhood, chances are good that you have one, if not two neighbors who are simply too close for comfort. Even if you get along with your neighbors, not being to go outside and enjoy some privacy is challenging. Privacy is an ongoing concern but you have options for using landscaping as a means of creating better privacy. With this, nose neighbors would not be able to see what you are doing or hear your conversations.
While you could certainly plant several tall shrubs or hedges, it is important to know that you actually have many other options to consider. For starters, you need to determine exactly how much privacy you need. For instance, do you want to block off a neighbor’s view 100%, are you trying to block out views coming from the street, or are you simply looking for a little bit of privacy but without blocking out your view or natural light completely.
Based on the amount of privacy you want to achieve, you could choose several of the same plant or a combination of several different plants. Remember, shrubs are always a good choice because the foliage is so dense. However, it would be important to choose shrubs that also look nice. For this purpose, we recommend the Japanese Aucuba, Yew, Bamboo Grasses, and Boxwood. While these would be our top recommendations, other possibilities include Privet, Honeysuckle, Lilac, and the Snowball plant.
If you want to create better privacy while creating a garden setting, then you would want to avoid using shrubs. For this, you might want to consider some beautiful vines. The great thing about vines is that at maturity, they can block out views but because of the way they drape and with many having seasonal blooms, they provide a wonderful display of greenery. For instance, if you wanted to cover a lattice in a short amount of time, the Virginia Creeper is an ideal choice. In addition, you might consider Morning Glories and Sweet Peas. The only downfall to these is that they are annuals, meaning you would need to replace each year but with intertwining vines, they look gorgeous and offer a nice fragrance.
Another way to add privacy to your deck or patio area is with a planted screen, which are hedges are trimmed symmetrically. The benefit is that the plants line up nicely so you end up with a uniform look. Just remember, when choosing hedges the height at maturity. After all, some will remain relatively small for several years and then suddenly, shoot up taller than you would want. When this happens, the outdoor appearance is unsightly and the massive plants can be difficult to manage.
Along with taller, denser plants and suggestions we provided, you could always research additional options online or visit with a professional from your local gardening center or nursery. With this, you could learn about plant species that would grow best for the intended purpose but also those that would grow best for the growing zone where you live. Regardless of what you ultimately decide to do, just remember that when it comes to developing a more private space where you can relax, visit with family, or entertain friends, multiple options are available.
