Layer it with something tall and green along the back-- then perhaps hydrangeas in front of that and something smaller in front of those.

Think about some evergreen shrubs which thrive in your climate and plant a mix instead of a row on one kind of plant. Hollies and wax myrtles are nice and are favored by birds. For color, camellias are nice understory evergreens. Selection will depend on climate (heat/cold), soil moisture, amount of sunlight, and what appeals to you. You might see if there are any local gardens that you can visit to get an idea of what grows well in your area and an idea about the mature size of the plants that you are considering. Good luck!

I just moved to a 4 story townhome with a tiny yard. I planted this all over the fence. Since then, I also painted/tinted the fence in a taupe color. You actually have an empty canvas that can be very beautiful once the landscape grows. A large basket with strong color flowers and potatoe ivy hanging off of it would be quite beautiful.

One other thing, I think the fence is fine, the main issue that I see is that the wood is too new. A tint or paint over it would do wonders

Our neighbors put up a fence like this- nice side facing us- years ago. At first, it looked so " intimidating", but we love the privacy to gives us!!

I thought the same thing as jduser, did they have a permit? Would feel good to have the town come after them to change an 80 ft. fence! And it may just be me, most things are, but if I ever painted or tinted someone else's fence on my side around here, I'd be wearing one of the fence posts. If you can get away with it, what about rolled reed fencing, I used that for privacy on one side of my deck before the evergreens grew in, and since this lovely thing has those posts, you can zip tie the reed/bamboo to secure it, they blend in.

This is a 2 year old thread, I am sure the fence has weathered and the shrubs are thriving;)

Did you check city ordinances? Some towns require the ugly side face into homeowners property! I'd go to a local nursery and check into evergreens that grow fast! Ask about berms too, which are essentially mounds of dirt they plant on to create height.

Mia- did you check the thread date?

For crying out loud, this popped up for me, I thought it was an active thread. Oh, my wasted pearls of wisdom!!!!!

Well Alberta pick up the bobbles , restring them and carry on....

Sniff, thanks margocorp, sniff, I'll try...

funny stuff...but really it doesn't matter the thread date for others like me who's neighbor just did the exact same thing. I was on houzz looking for ideas. I guess I'm not the only one with jerks for neighbors. I was thinking about non clumping bamboo since it grows quickly and tall on my side of the ugly fence.

Inspite of the thread date since people are commenting I'd to know why some consider this fence ugly? Yes it's common but fencing is expensive. We installed privacy fencing we hand built, stained black both sides. our neighbors had opposed the idea but had rauckus family parties which made using our open backyard impossible. 5 yrs later I can tell they like the privacy just as much and had no expense! Now we're starting the other side.

lboughton why are your neighbors jerks for wanting privacy?

Iboughton, I feel your pain. Liese Sadler, I don't think that's the issue, it's how it's done, and it sounds like you folks took a lot more care and consideration than most. The people in back of me are OK, and I had never met them before when my doorbell rang one Sunday afternoon and it was him. He introduced himself, explained they were replacing their stockade fence in the back and wanted me to know in case I had plants there that would be ruined, and so on. That is way out of the norm for the neighborhood. They put up what I call one of those refrigerator fences, because it's like I'm living in one, but I deal with it, it's the good finish on both sides. I say if you are going to install a fence as the one cited by the OP, put the "nice" side to your neighbor and you worry about planting to disguise the ugly on your side, it's called civilization. I'm moving to a place with refrigerator on one side, split rail on the other and glorified chicken wire in the back, only the refrigerator belongs to me, so we're talking, FYI Iboughton, planting cedars and cypress, fast growing evergreens. But with my luck, they probably have drones...

our new neighbors are jerks. they are on a corner property and didn't talk to anyone about how their fence would affect any of us. they just put it up. We used to have a beautiful view of the wooded part of the property and a little peak at the park at the end of the street. Now we only have a view of the horrible stockade fence. When we talked to them about it, they told us its their property and they will do what whatever they want and they don't care who it bothers. No one else has a 6 foot stockade fence that surrounds their property line in our neighborhood. We live in an older neighborhood with wooded lots and very few fences. but we are trying to make the best of it and I think growing everygreens along our property line may make the fence less offensive.

Hilarious..no one likes change...you will get accustomed to it...and maybe even like it.

Some people on corner property need fences because we have babies that can run in to street when playing. We have to sacrifice baby safety for your view?

Things may have improved since the original post. “Fences make good neighbors” is an old expression. Someone has revived this old post for a reason.
If you still live there and still have objections to the fence, you may consider adding a few trellises with vines, or you can plant azaleas, hydrangea, rhododendron or other flowering plants, or dwarf trees. The fence will change color as it weathers and new plantings will interrupt the length of the fence. You will get used to the fence. It may help block the sound of barking dogs and playing children if they have either.

It's a "courtesy" to have the "pretty side"facing the neighbor, not a law.

We put up a cedar fence that blends in with our neighbors.. SInce they did face the "pretty side" toward us, the fence installers, made the call to keep it consistent on our side.

The house behind us had a "crack-head",, living there until he lit a fire in his driveway and jumped into it. We put it up because of him leaning over his chain link fence, and breaking my solar lights.

The chain link fence is now the new property owners issue. It is their chain link, and if they want to remove it to get to the "weeds" go for it.

I'm sure the realtor is aware of who the house was purchased from.

I am elated he is gone as I see new people looking to move in.

Our other neighbor has a broken chain link fence, with pallots of wood for his stove.

It is super ugly and I am going to plant a bush in the spot, because he outright stated, he is not going to fix it.

He leaves his trash cans right along the edge of our yard, too.

@User What is a refrigerator fence?

You want the nice side facing out for security reasons. The ugly side is easy to climb over right into your yard.

He’s gone.
Sane humans are moving in.

Well this is the view that I have to see from my front porch or driveway everyday. The first time the neighbor erected the fence in the front yard they put it on my side of the property line. I had to hire a surveyor to confirm for them where the property line was. I was going to have to take them to court to get them to move it off of my property however leaving the survey markers up along with the string line they eventually removed the fence in about a month and reinstalled it the whole way down the property line passing the property line corner and installing the finished post past the road right of way. That is why there are two different colors to the fence as it ages. This is the ending result of what is referred to as a spite fence. I no longer can see my home when I turn at the entrance of my street. I can no longer sit on my front porch and few up the street. I was told by the homeowner that they did not want me to see their business LOL. I guess they forgot that I have to pass in front of their house everyday when walking or driving in order to get out of my subdivision. The HOA rules state clearly no fence to be erected in the front yard any further than the corner of your home. Good luck with trying to get the HOA to Stand by their rules. Contacted the code enforcement to inform them that their fence is on road right a way which is against the Town requirements. The neighbor turned around and told the Town they wanted to file a complaint because I have the red plastic reflectors installed behind the curb on road right a way. I did it so that no one can drive up on the sidewalk or grass. The fence is an eyesore as well as a solid structure that you cannot see through. It not only blocks my view and the view of others it also blocks anyone who is backing out of that driveway because they cannot see anything that may be coming up or down the street. Oh yeah they don't know how to drive either they've already had issues with mailboxes and running over people that are leaving their homes. How

lucky you are I guess not to have this kind of neighbor. I've lived here for over 30 years and they just moved in.

I’ve never seen someone take the fence that close to the road.
Our fence is not on anyone else’s property.
The jerk behind us moved out.
New normal people moved in and they removed his ugly chain link fence so only a wooden fence remains.
I left them party lights for their gazebo (welcome to the neighborhood) and I’ve had 0 issues with them.