Narrow privacy screen ideas

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

The house next to me used to have a short length of privacy fence, but a property management company bought it to rent it out and removed that fence when they fixed it up. The distance between me and my neighbor is relatively short, so I'd like something to block my view of their patio from my deck. I'm looking for a screen that would be between 6 to 10 feet tall, 6 to 8 feet in length, and about 5 feet wide. I'd rather not wait years for it to start screening. I've thought about different things for far too long and I'm not making any decisions. Everything from just ornamental grass, to a variety of shrubs, or a single type of hedge. Suggestions since I can't seem to make up my mind?

This screen grab from a street view map shows the area I'm referring to. The yellow box would be the new screen. My house is on the right. That small wood fence you see on the left is no longer there. You might ask why I wouldn't put a shrub up against the fence line. That's because there is a swale there. An underground spring is back behind our property somewhere, and when it rains a lot we have water coming down the hill and through our property line right where that fence was. This is why i'd need to put this screen a bit closer to my side. I'd put a small berm there to give it a bit more distance from the water.

Featured Answer

cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

10 years ago

The problem is finding something that will immediately be six feet tall and yet somehow magically stop growing when it reaches ten. Things don't just stop growing.

I would probably just replace the section of fencing on my side of the property line- perhaps from the shrub border toward the back there forward as far as you need it. That would solve the privacy issue, allow the water to flow, and not put an obstacle of shrubs right in the middle of your mowing path.

If I had to choose a plant I would go with narrow conifers, but given that you have neglected to give us any information regarding your location it is impossible to be any more specific than that.

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Comments (11)

Brian S
Original Author
10 years ago
The fence isn't mine, so there is no fence to replace. Both fences belonged to the neighbor, and both are gone.

I thought my zone was in my screen name, but it's not. Zone 6.

I didn't say anything about planting something that is immediately six feet tall and then "magically" stops growing. Yeesh.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
not only will they not stop growing in height.. but also not in width.. etc ...

unless you want to sign up for a life long pruning deal ....im getting too old for that to be fun anymore.. lol ...

you said: block my view of their patio from my deck. I'm looking for a screen

==>>> then why not put in a lattice screen ... sink a couple 4 x4 or 4 x6 ... install some lattice.. and grow some vines on it .. annual morning glory ... perennial clematis.. etc ... think outside your tree/conifer box ... i doubt the solution is there ... and it can be done in one weekend .... and right up next to the deck ... you could still do the shrubs out there.. but you goal would be accomplished ....

BTW .... how many hours of sun ...

ken
Sara Malone Zone 9b
10 years ago
There are some narrow Taxus cultivars that are attractive and more refined-looking than the ubiquitous Thujas. They can take some shade, too.
Brian S
Original Author
10 years ago
this area gets full sun for the most part. shade in early morning, but sun all day
Sara Malone Zone 9b
10 years ago
Then Taxus should be fine, as well as the Thujas.
Brian S
Original Author
10 years ago
Just did a quick googling as that's the first time I've heard Taxus. Looks like it's Yew? Those are the stereotypical hedges around me. We grew up with yew around my parents house. I don't think I could plant that. Unless you had a specific type in mind that I could google and see looks different than the norm.
Sara Malone Zone 9b
10 years ago
Yes, yew, but narrow cultivars - their names escape me at the moment but I could look them up if you are interested. They have very dark foliage which makes them a good foil for other plants.Some have golden foliage, too. You're in a very different zone than I'm in so I would defer to those who know your climate better (I think you have snow and I don't know what that does to Taxus - we've had snow once in 125 years and it was only 1/4"!).
Brian S
Original Author
10 years ago
i grew up in ohio, we had yew and plenty of snow
Debbie Downer
10 years ago
How about a good well made fence with lattice instead of solid - with climbing roses, paniculata, honeysuckle etc. I just completed mine with some super fast growing grape vines running along the top and it looks much better than I thought it would.
Brian S
Original Author
10 years ago
that's an option, but it's not one i'm leaning towards. I'd prefer to just get something planted and not have a structure to deal with. Also, something evergreen would be ideal.