Planting for Privacy
Browse these makeovers and get ideas for creating a green screen in the yard.
Too Much Information
From inside this home, the only view is of the neighbor's backyard. The homeowners want to walk out of their house into a secluded garden retreat.
Green Scene
Even though the planting is quite new, this mixture of trees, shrubs and perennials already has begun to provide screening. Because the site is a drainage area, wet-soil-tolerant plants were chosen.
Green Privacy
The planting area of the backyard screen isn't simply a single line of trees or shrubs across the back end of the property but a wide buffer zone that forms a destination garden in itself.
At One With Traffic
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The homeowners want more than a fence-worth of separation from the noise of a busy street and a train station. They want a low-maintenance landscape that will provide a private getaway in this narrow lot.
The Plan
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The site plan includes a dry-set stone patio, a modern-style water feature, lush plants and trees — packing functionality and interest into the small space.
Soothing Sounds
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The ground-level water feature keeps the focus on the landscape itself, not on the street beyond, and helps mask traffic noise. Once the river birch has had a chance to fill in, the stop sign will be but a memory.
The Beauty of a Berm
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New berms against the walls raise the grade of the site and provide interest. Trees and lush understory plants will soon create a sense of enclosure. Plus, there's no more grass to mow.
Bare Bones
This Mediterranean-style home received a makeover inside, and now the homeowners want landscaping that not only beautifies the bare front yard but gives them privacy on the porch for relaxing and entertaining.
Fast Privacy
River birches will provide amply screening for the front porch. These fast-growing deciduous trees offer colorful bark and their branches move gracefully in the wind.
View From the Porch
Once exposed, the front porch now provides views of an interesting garden sanctuary and courtyard.
Is There Anywhere to Hide?
Because it's on a corner lot, this house has three doors that give undesirable access to passersby. Plus, there is virtually no privacy anywhere in the yard.
Decorative and Private
The overexposed side of the house gets a coverup with a fence and an attractive mechanical gate leading to the garage. The bottom of the fence is solid for the sake of privacy; a lattice overlay gives it a garden feel.
Needs Enclosure
This bare backyard badly needs enclosure. The only view is of the neighbor's house.
Lattice and Leylands
A lattice fence and arborvitae provide an attractive low-cost solution. Shown here is the Eastern arborvitae (Thuija occidentalis), which will eventually grow to about 20 to 30 feet high and 10 to 12 feet wide.
Porch Privacy Tip
Mount some shutters on a frame, add a coat of fresh paint and hang them from the ceiling of a porch.
Next Up
Plant Bed
Before planting, the bed is outlined and cleared of all existing shrubs and sod. These plants are for a huge bed, 30 feet long by 15 feet wide.
Alliums
Here, Joe Lamp'l introduces a flowering ornamental member of the onion family -- alliums. Their large single blooms add interest around a garden fence or in a flowerbed.
Greenhouse Advice
Learn about propagating, or reproducing, plants from seeds, then get some tips for using containers to start the tender seeds.
Planting Bulbs for Summer Bloom
Plant these beauties in spring to brighten a summer garden.
Dividing Plants
Why buy when you can divide? You can save a bundle by dividing larger perennials and replanting them all over your yard.
Planting and Caring for Bulbs
Planting bulbs in the garden can eventually provide eye-catching results.
10 Things to Plant This Fall
Dig in! It's the first day of fall: learn what you should be planting right now.
Planting Tomatoes
Follow these tips for growing tomatoes in your summer vegetable garden.
The Right Way to Plant a Tree
Healthy roots and cultivating the surrounding soil are keys to success in planting a new tree.
Planting Tomatoes From Seed
Learn how to grow tomatoes from seed.
