Grow a Lush Privacy Screen

Having a good relationship with your neighbors is key to enjoying your home, but that doesn’t mean hanging out with them in your outdoor space, unless they’re invited. And while good fences really do make good neighbors, they can also seem harsh in outdoor spaces with a lot of hardscaping.

Greening your patio, deck or yard can go a long way toward screening your space. And creating privacy with plants doesn’t mean you’ll have to wait several years before enjoying your patio in peace, nor should a lack of space for planting beds leave you waving at your neighbors.

Here are 10 ideas for making your outdoor space feel lush and secluded with plants.

Bamboo is a privacy go-to for a reason: lightning-fast growth in almost any climate. Plant clusters of shoots 3 to 5 feet apart to create a dense screen. But beware: This plant grows so quickly that it can easily become invasive. Planting bamboo in raised beds with root barriers will make it easier to trim the roots every couple of years, controlling its spread.

More ideas for gardening with bamboo


Horsetail plant also can create an effective, fast-growing screen. This hardy reed expands quickly to form an effective barrier — even around kids and pets or in an arid climate.


Groupings of tall ornamental grasses can be a softer way shield your space. Look for grasses that retain their vertical shape, such as the Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass planted around this pool. This species can grow up to 6 feet tall.

When planting ornamental grasses, be sure to choose noninvasive varieties.


No space for beds? Use raised planter boxes to create a lushly layered barrier of ornamental grasses and fragrant blooms.


As with layered plantings, placing dramatic containers topped with green against flat surfaces helps break up and soften a space.


Looking for something outside the planter box? Consider a vertical garden. Mount one against an existing wall or use one as a wall of its own. Arrange your plantings to create a sculptural centerpiece, as with this succulent garden, or place them haphazardly for a less formal feel.

11 Inspiring Vertical Gardens


A vertical garden of herbs like lavender and rosemary not only does double duty when dinnertime comes, but their relaxing scent also helps create a feeling of seclusion.


Trellises are another way to plant vertically, although it can take years for plants to climb and fill them in. The solution: Create lush layers with a low hedge in a raised planter box.

9 Low-Growing Hedges That Make Good Neighbors


Most people don’t consider cacti as privacy plants, but they’re a great alternative to trees in areas that need vertical protection. Intersperse plantings with architectural details or use dense-growing cacti like Mexican Fencepost to create a living fence.


A majestic agave plant can create an effective barrier in areas where you’d like some view to filter through, whether your space looks onto a beautiful vista or into a room where your children play.

More ideas for boosting backyard privacy the subtle way

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