You could use sail cloth panels strung on a wire. This is low maintenance and will give you some visual privacy.

Sorry about your unfortunate predicament. You might have some hinged trellises constructed (similar to an Asian folding screen). The ones in the example are attractive as is, but would be really lovely once covered with climbing and blooming greenery.

Oh me oh my...you are singing my song! Your situation is more challenging than mine however without being able to do a permanent fixture ; (.

Problem in a nutshell...how do you screen out the neighbors without making it look like you are screening them out and get around the 6' limit on fencing and make it removable? And yesterday is TOO late!

I'd go rent some inflatable play stuff and then everyone would either hate you or love you! Probably not in your covenant....

But if you can plant, Bamboo grows fast and tall, so does Dutchman's pipe as a vine. There are large pampas grasses, also. For a quick growing fence cover, sweet potato vines in the bright green variety go like crazy if watered continually. Sunflowers can also grow massively tall. Sweet corn in the garden, grapes, etc.

Really, in their underwear?

We have a similar problem, and someone suggested Jasmine. To my knowledge it grows fast, and if you add wire and train them to grow across it, then they create an instant screen... and they smell nice!!

Thank you so much for these wonderful suggestions!

I had considered building framed panels of trellis with spiked bottoms to sink into the soil, which could be secured to the fence (but taller than it). Then I'd like to try and train some vines to tell of the neighbours via some lovely dense foliage.

I'm going to look into these suggestions.

I had a similar problem some time ago. I did a dyi combo screening and planting fence using separate elements. I took the measurement across the space I wanted to shield. Then I went to the hardware store and measured their prebuild lattice work. I needed 4 units. I also purchased enough length of 1"x1" to wrap around both the front and back edges of each lattice as a frame and I bought extra. I didn't forget the wood glue, long lightweight and extra long heavy duty wood screws, a couple of bags of cheap gravel, some bags of planting dirt, and white exterior paint. Then I hopped over to Ikea and bought 5 of their standard issue of wooden boxes. Once home, I framed up the lattice work on the garage floor, then painted one side. While I waited for the paint to dry I drilled several large holes in the back (now the bottom of the boxes). Then I added a 3/4 frame using the spare 1"x1" around the top using woodglue and screws. Next I painted the exterior of the boxes and the interior down about 4" inside. I painted the back side of the framed trellis and waited for everything to dry. A couple hours later, I took it all out to the back and set the box planters on their front sides at the appropriate distance. I attached the trellis panels to two of planters; left side of planter to right side of trellis - left side of trellis to
right side of the next planter. Attach using the extra long heavy duty screws and use 2 screws for each side; one at the top and one at the bottom. There will be a space between each trellis. Then a friend helped me to upright this length. I filled the bottom of the planters 1/3 full of gravel, laid down several paper towels over that and then filled the remainder with dirt. I bought the cheapest flowering climbing vines I could find and planted them. By mid-summer I had a nice screening effect and not one complaint from anyone. When I moved, I simply took the entire thing down and set it out on the curb. Within an hour I had a neighbor at my door asking to buy it. Problem solved.

1 - Contact the city about the clutter. It might be a hazard, vermin breeding grounds or something they can do something about. I assume the objectionable house is not part of the condo association.

2 - Trellises, with fast-growing vines on them (annuals), embedded in concrete (but not in the ground) would be "temporary" for legal purposes. Fill big flower pots with concrete and embed the posts in them.

PLAN:
The closer to your house the trellises are the faster the vines will block the view, so figure out where the "sweet spot" is of view blocking versus giving up yard space. Go out there with a 10-foot 2x4, marked at 1-foot intervals, and see what heights and distances from the fence will give you the best trade-off of space and view-blocking.

Also, you might not need the a lot of height on all sections: make it just high enough to block what you don't want to see, and the different heights will give you variety. Differing distances from the fence might also give the best results.

Use the space between trellis and fence for things you don't want to see, like a compost heap, potting bench,or doghouse.

Wow! My sister in law is sending a Late Christmas present. Poplar trees. I don't remember the variety, but they grow 6-8' a year. Mine will come as just sticks, but maybe you could find some at a nursery that are larger. The trellis is grand idea.

And I would call the city. My saying is: You might be poor, but you don't have to be filthy!

Yes, do call the city ordinance department. You can make an anonymous complaint (they won't tell who called). If the city has property standards ordinances, they will be able to force him to clean up or face fines and/or jail time. Be ready - it can take a long while to get thru all the red tape (I've been in local govt for 20 yrs - I KNOW! :-) ) Good luck!

I used bamboo for this purpose. However, it spreads. You can install a bamboo barrier, or use a horse trough to contain the plants. There's a huge variety of bamboos that grow to different heights; I chose Yellow Groove, which grows to about 20 ft. tall in our area.

Running bamboos are fine if you contain the rhizomes with either a 2-ft.-deep bamboo barrier or planted in a container such as a horse trough. Clumping bamboos have also been known to spread; I'm still digging rhizomes out of a corner of my yard from a rogue clumping bamboo I removed three years ago.

They spread. Of course that's what makes them a good green screen of unsightly neighbors! But at least the clumping bamboo's rhizomes are still in the corner of your yard rather than all the way down the block! But yeah, be careful when choosing your bamboo. Some varieties are definitely more aggressive than others.

Alright, so for bamboo. I live in Missisauga, Ontario. The winters have been mild, but definitely below freezing. I will start researching the varieties.

I can't thank you all enough for the amazing, detailed suggestions.

This chart might help. Note that the heights listed vary depending on your climate. The Yellow Groove, which allegedly grows to 40', maxes out around 20' in the Pacific Northwest.
http://www.lewisbamboo.com/cold-hardy-bamboo.html

I would caution about getting into anything that is "invasive" - if you do resort to bamboo - which can be/is invasive be sure you have it in some sort of container/trough or something. I've got several "invasive" ground covers that seemed like excellent ideas at the time only to have them choke out and invade every nook and cranny. I pull them more than I do weeds! So - buyer beware!

You absolutely have to be careful with bamboo! The rhizomes can jump over barriers (although it's easy to just cut them and pull them up). Here's a link that describes a good way to grow it in containers: http://bamboogeek.blogspot.com/2008/02/growing-bamboo-in-containers.html

I think that tsudhonimh is spot on. Don't be afraid to speak up and complain.

I've seen plenty of snowy photos of pandas in bamboo forests. And yes, some bamboos are more invasive than others. It's all about finding the right plant for the right environment. Talk to a good LOCAL nursery or landscaper. They'll help you find the right plant whether it's bamboo or something else.

don't know if this would work in your area - but in Calif., we have roll out bamboo fencing available. It's usually 5' high and narrow strips of precut bamboo are wired together in various lengths available at almost all building supply stores. Usually however, it is only 5'high. Why one couldn't stack them - a heavy duty staple gun would work- escapes me.This product is inexpensive, organic and immediate. It could be done in a couple of hours. Ideally, planting in front of it with any of the suggestions made would be a plus.It would need a stabilizer- any of the above suggestions-or wiring it to an existing structure-is the only thought neeeded.

I'm going to start tackling this project this weekend. Thanks so much!

Im sorry you are faced with these neighbors...jasmine works great! And smells wonderful..we have this problem with our neighbors..i call the city..a policemen came out told them to clean it up, if not after 30days the fine of 500dollars A Day!! Would be inforced to the letter..neighbor Never knew it was me! Oh yea, within 3days it was spotless! Yep, our village is very serious! Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. Fortunately, the sloppy neighbours moved. The new ones have been building a gorgeous deck and the yard is tidy!

That is great news. Hopefully you didn't plant bamboo (at least without a rhizome barrier!)
All the best