Do you have particularly nosy neighbors and/or particularly private backyard practices that necessitate ABSOLUTE privacy? I have to say that from what you describe, it sounds like there's still a good bit of screening between the yards already, even if it's not absolute.

I, personally, don't much care for walls 'o green (or antyhing else for that matter). A nice layered mixed shrub/tree border gives plenty of privacy (and much more visual interest and wildlife activity) without claustrophobia.

Remember too that you can also create screening without planting right along the border -- sight lines are what matter. Find a way to perhaps plant within the yard to create additional privacy in areas where you really need/want it rather than focussing on walling the yard off in its entirety.

Maybe it would be helpful to think less along the lines of hedges and more along the lines of natural peek a boo fan for a smaller area.

I want a complete screen because I simply value privacy, I grew up on a property where I couldn't see any neighbors and I like that. Also my neighbors have a dog that barks incessantly whenever it sees any people or animals, the only place we can enjoy in peace is the front yard where the fence is tall enough for the dog to not be able to see us. Lastly the neighbors themselves have expressed a desire for more privacy, they installed some lattice between their deck and our yard but there is still a lot of open space that we would both like blocked.

I'm not afraid of the space becoming claustrophobic because it is quite large. Most of the area to be screened is more open and gets more sun so it is better suited to a wider variety of plants. Achieving an open look would be difficult because the entire yard is already boxed in by a not-very-attractive fence, it is too short to provide privacy but does a good job of keeping the dogs in (and out.)

Thanks for the advice though, more would be greatly appreciated!

So the pines are yours? If you want tree cover, your best bet might be to cut the remaining three down as well and start a whole new row there, because as you say, nothing well get established with them there. It's not just the shade but also the root competition. Of course, growing things in takes a while, so you could put up lattice panels or something for vines to climb up while they grow in.

KarinL

The pines are on my property but I'm not sure how much more sun would be provided by chopping them down because my neighbors to the south have much taller evergreens that I think cast shade on roughly the same area. Looking from the front of the house I cannot see my pines, but I can clearly see theirs towering over my property. I like trees and the shade they cast keeps the property much cooler in the summer, it just makes it really difficult to find something that will thrive and act as a good privacy screen.

If there is nothing that will grow and bamboo is out of the question my wonderful bf is a skilled carpenter and can build privacy lattice or something. But I think we'd both prefer a 'wall 'o green' because that would kind of make the space seem like a forest clearing instead of a yard surrounded by other houses, and it would be less work for him.

How about vines? They might be appropriate for some of the areas you want screened.

I was recently searching for something which would grow in near-complete shade. Some of my neighbor-to-the-south's Leyland cypresses died and I heard the sound of chain-saws! (Two more down, only about ninety left to go.) But I suddenly discovered I preferred the privacy they'd provided. I have two mature cherries there, so the area still gets almost no sun, even with the new windows in the Leyland cypress hedge.

Anyway, I did a search for "shade" in the Vines forum and there were many shade-loving vines which would have been perfect for me ... if only I'd been in a warmer zone.

That search returns nearly 200 results. You'll save a lot of time if you limit yourself to the results which indicate the poster is in a zone roughly comparable to yours, or a part of the country with a climate similar to yours. You should also ignore the many threads which got only 1 or 2 responses.

Good luck!

If you really want complete privacy, start building your fence now, and probably by the end of this year you will have it done.
There are some shrubs and trees that will grow where you need them, but plant material will take years to be big enough for your satisfaction in providing privacy.
You could by mature specimens, but with the size of the yard you want to screen on 3 sides, you are talking thousands of dollars, so build the fence.
What about a bamboo fence?
I have seen beautiful bamboo fences, they are attractive.
Just a thought.