Natural Privacy Help

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I want to have and evergreen type privacy divider between the neighbor's yard and my back yard. I have an idea, but need input if it will work or something better would work.

Background: I'm in central AL, zone 8. My neighbor's yard is full of trash, scrap junk, and they burn their trash. I've talked to them numerous times about keeping trash out of my yard and it has fallen on deaf ears. Also, the divider will block my dogs views of their yard so they won't bark at them as much.

I really want confederate Jasmine to grow in this area. I know it stays green year round and has a lovely smell when in bloom. My problem is cost for some sort of trellis. It needs to be super cheap. I was wonder if I could put metal (or wood) posts in the ground to give me 6-8 ft tall posts and attach wire (or some sort of cables) horizontally? I was thinking the posts should be every 10 feet (end posts anchored on the "blank" side to the ground) and the horizontal wires spaced about every foot high. Would this work? Any better ideas? Between my fence and the property line is about 10 feet on one side and about 8 feet (at mist) on the other side. I know a vining plant will probably be the best option for a tiny area. I've considered bamboo, but I don't think I could keep up with controlling it physically. I'm adding a few photos of the area, sorry they aren't great.

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Comments (4)

dahlias_bloom
Original Author
10 years ago
Here's another photo of the area
PRO
Yardvaark
10 years ago
I have suggested this idea numerous times on the forum. The cheapest, easiest version of this -- I call it suspended trellis -- is to swag a porch chain (or heavier) between the top of posts, hung on heavy hooks. Drop cords at 12" intervals from the chain to stakes pounded in the ground. This is a temporary structure so vines have a way to climb to the top, where the chain will support them. But it requires a vine capable of climbing these. For confederate jasmine, the horizontal wires may be the best. I've used wire clothes line attached to posts with farm fence staples and it worked well. Regardless of which way you go, the end posts will need sturdy diagonal bracing so as not to "fold" from the weight of the plants pulling on them.
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dahlias_bloom
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you for the insight and help! If I do the horizontal chain, should I use a heavy duty eye hook in the wood post? I assume wood posts (like for decks) would be best instead of a thin metal most? I haven't thought about the vertical chains until you mentioned it. I like that idea, but it seems like you think it would be more difficult for the confederate Jasmine to grow up it? I have a few questions about the diagonal bracing. First, I would do the diagonal bracing the same direction as the main chains so it looks like one line, correct? Second, when bracing, would I have the top chain braced into the ground at the same distance the pole is tall (i.e., post is 6 ft high so the chain should be anchored 6 ft out)? Third, there's a 6-8 wide sweet gum on the far end where the divider will be. Can I anchor the last post on that side to the tree, or should I just anchor to the ground? I may have another similar sized sweet gum on the other end as well, but I'm not sure if they are lined up to deal with both trees.
PRO
Yardvaark
10 years ago
If you have a stout tree as the terminal post, you would not need diagonal bracing for it. Only the chain is horizontal (swag.) the verticals are any cord that will last long enough for vines to grow to top where they will be supported by chain.

Have not tried confed. jasmine and don't know if it will climb vertical cords, but think maybe not.

Diagonal bracing to be hidden by vines.