Privacy garden

[farmettehopeful]

Hello all. I am new to this site...found it from BYC!!! I am hoping to get some ideas on what to plant in an area that will give us some privacy. We are in the process (3rd and final year) of filling in our backyard to level it out. This WILL be completed this spring lol. My issue is my nosey neighbors. Their house and yard is slightly higher than ours and we need plants to hide us from their prying eyes! I just purchased landscape timbers to do a raised bed to be level with their yard by Their fence. This area will come out 8ft at angles, then have 20ft of "frontage" so it will be a half a hexagon type shape. I have been looking at ornamental grasses that are supposed to grow 5ft, then have 5 more feet of "blooms" in the fall but I'm not sure if these will look good enough for my hubby! Our biggest thing is privacy and least amount of maintenance. I have taken on a lot this year with it being my first year home with the kids. We have meaties, layers, a new veggie garden and several little flower "gardens" to be started so not much time! Oh, we have 3 big dogs that will have no problems climbing in this area so I was thinking of lining the edges with flowers that cascade down to discourage them from jumping in it. What do you all think?!? I still have to figure out how to post pics so you can get a better idea of area.Also, it is on the west side of property that gets a good a bit of sun until the trees fill in, then it can get only a little shaded.

 

[so lucky]

Hi, and . Will 5 ft.grass be tall enough to give you enough privacy? You might want to consider, too, that grasses have to be cut back in late winter/early spring, so they will be just brush-like nubs for a while, giving no privacy. Does their fence give you privacy? Would they consider helping you increase the height of the fence so it creates more of the desired effect? Here's just a few other ideas: Plant smallish trees for a border. Use vines such as ivy that would be permanent on a permanent (and sturdy) support. Use a support to hang several bushy hanging baskets in a line along the fence row, to block the view above the fence. Also, it doesn't have to be a total obstruction of sight. Just a little something blurring the view goes a long way to give you a sense of privacy.
I kind of doubt if trailing plants in the landscaped area will do much to discourage the dogs from jumping in there. How high will it be off the ground level of your yard? Guess you could plant yuccas or prickly pear there! (just kidding) Good luck! Sounds like you have your hands full!

 

[thistlebloom]

Welcome Farmette! How about a trellis along the neighbor side with a vine? Honeysuckle is a fairly fast grower, grows in full sun and will take shade too. That's just one idea, there are many many vines that would work. One quick fix would be morning glory, it would grow fast and fill in by summer.

 

[farmettehopeful]

Thistlebloom: I am already going to be doing morning glories for our deck for privacy from them so I think I want something new! Will honeysuckle stay filled in for a while or even come back next year? So lucky: Unfortunately, they are just down right rude so there is no hope of agreeing on anything to do with their fence. It is a split rail fence so it isn't very high. When I started my veggie garden area this year (about 3 feet from their fence) she said "you aren't going to grow anything on my fence are you"! I was tempted after that to just "accidently" throw some seeds on the fence line to see what would grow haha. I am not too worried about bareness in winter since we won't be out there much but I didn't think about the regrowth come spring when I start being outside as much as possible! I may have to look into building a trellis or several of them spaced apart and fill in with climbers. Atleast the trellis will provide a slight vision loss for them! I don't care about seeing them, it's them and their kids staring over and commenting on anything we do! Oh, my dogs did great staying down when I had morning glory covering our front "wall", I think it makes them wonder if there's anything behind the vines so they don't bother trying to find out! lol Thanks for the helpful ideas!

 

[thistlebloom]

Oh yeah, honeysuckle can get very dense, it will definitely fill in. Clematis is another option (my favorite ) and there are dozens of varieties, but it takes a few years to establish itself.Where are you located generally? Zone?

It doesn't sound like you have lots of space so if it were me I'd be inclined to use vines rather than shrubs or trees.

The type of vine you go with will depend on your growing zone.

To me, privacy is a good thing even with wonderful neighbors, but it's a necessity with not so nice ones.

 

[farmettehopeful]

I believe I'm in zone 6a if I remember correctly. I'm new to gardening of practically any kind this year! I have merely dabbled before. Might head down to local nursery for their thoughts too.

 

[thistlebloom]

That's a great idea. They can advise you on what will work in your area. I assume you mean local nursery/garden center, not a Big Box, where you may or may not find somebody who has good experience.

Have fun, and ask lots of questions!

 

[lillie]

I was thinking maybe a tall and thin evergreen type tree - an Italian Cypress or a thin Arborvitae variety? Would give you privacy year round and provide a nice screen without taking up lots of space. Of course it would take a few years but you could always trellis some annual vines behind them until they reach a useful size.

 

[catjac1975]

Hello all. I am new to this site...found it from BYC!!! I am hoping to get some ideas on what to plant in an area that will give us some privacy. We are in the process (3rd and final year) of filling in our backyard to level it out. This WILL be completed this spring lol. My issue is my nosey neighbors. Their house and yard is slightly higher than ours and we need plants to hide us from their prying eyes! I just purchased landscape timbers to do a raised bed to be level with their yard by Their fence. This area will come out 8ft at angles, then have 20ft of "frontage" so it will be a half a hexagon type shape. I have been looking at ornamental grasses that are supposed to grow 5ft, then have 5 more feet of "blooms" in the fall but I'm not sure if these will look good enough for my hubby! Our biggest thing is privacy and least amount of maintenance. I have taken on a lot this year with it being my first year home with the kids. We have meaties, layers, a new veggie garden and several little flower "gardens" to be started so not much time! Oh, we have 3 big dogs that will have no problems climbing in this area so I was thinking of lining the edges with flowers that cascade down to discourage them from jumping in it. What do you all think?!? I still have to figure out how to post pics so you can get a better idea of area.Also, it is on the west side of property that gets a good a bit of sun until the trees fill in, then it can get only a little shaded.

What is up with neighbors anyway? I don't look at anything my neighbors do nor complain about things that may impact me that I do not like. My neighbors have a hissy fit every time we cut down a tree or dig a hole. (They are all wood burners too.) We have a lot of land and I guess they are envious but, I do not owe them their privacy. Plant your own buffer!. So anyway, Slender evergreens will be worth the cost as they will grow quickly and provide complete privacy. Find out your best options for your zone. A fence will give you the quickest privacy.Maybe your neighbors are just interested in your projects.

 

[catjac1975]

Thistlebloom: I am already going to be doing morning glories for our deck for privacy from them so I think I want something new! Will honeysuckle stay filled in for a while or even come back next year? So lucky: Unfortunately, they are just down right rude so there is no hope of agreeing on anything to do with their fence. It is a split rail fence so it isn't very high. When I started my veggie garden area this year (about 3 feet from their fence) she said "you aren't going to grow anything on my fence are you"! I was tempted after that to just "accidently" throw some seeds on the fence line to see what would grow haha. I am not too worried about bareness in winter since we won't be out there much but I didn't think about the regrowth come spring when I start being outside as much as possible! I may have to look into building a trellis or several of them spaced apart and fill in with climbers. Atleast the trellis will provide a slight vision loss for them! I don't care about seeing them, it's them and their kids staring over and commenting on anything we do! Oh, my dogs did great staying down when I had morning glory covering our front "wall", I think it makes them wonder if there's anything behind the vines so they don't bother trying to find out! lol Thanks for the helpful ideas!

Wait I missed this. Whose fence is it anyway? If it's their fence they can have it anyway they want. Get an exact survey of the land and put up your own privacy fence. My neighbors have done some nasty things but I do not believe in "getting back" at them. That's a moral choice but if you react in anger things could escalate. Cowards do things when no one is looking.