I would buy three rather large square (about 24") & planted with vertical plants / shrubs, or a trough (rectangular) planted similarly. The reason I suggest square planters or a trough is that they are much less likely to blow over. That's what I have , I get some pretty strong winds occasionally where I live. (beach). I mulch the tops of the planters with Mexican beach stone to further weigh them down, plus it looks good.

Hi Bailey, you wouldn't happen to have a photo would you? And what kind of plants do you have?

I think the square planters are a great idea -- and (depending on where you live) I'd plant arbor vitae -- it grows pretty rapidly. It will give you height and privacy. I've seen some nice fiberglass planters in Ballard's catalog. There are some good pix on pinterest, too.

I don't have photos unfortunately ( I'm away from home ), however, it depends upon where you live. In my area ( So California coastal) I have ficus indica vertical plants. Also, podocarpus & as mentioned above bamboo ( although bamboo sheds lots of leaves , removed mine for that reason), however, looks nice. My square planters are similar to the above photo.

Basketweave wood fence panels to match the finish of the deck, provided the HOA permits.

find out exactly the dimensions that the HOA will allow, it has to be written down some place. go as tall as you can especially against the house, even if it drops off after, you can fill in with plants.

Go with plants.... the greenery softens the space and will be pleasing for you and your neighbors - be sure to get the fiberglass pots so as not to add too much weight - bamboo works nice as a "wall" - fast growing and spreads on its own so it will be thick in no time...Or since there is nice sun there, maybe you can get a narrow holder built and hang pots of herbs that you can both use!

Good luck and have fun...

I live in a very popular tourist destination, I use large pots & troughs planted to create a sense of privacy without making my patios look too fortress-like. I agree that plants soften the look & look nice viewed from inside the house. Agree with fiberglass or some sort of pvc, less weight.

I would do the fence then add greenery in front of it to soften it up a bit.

And don't forget--you're only getting the illusion of privacy. Sound carries. And unless it's a really solid wall you can still be seen. But often, it's only the illusion that matters.

I think plantings are much nicer divider than an actual fence and also create a noise buffer and a wind break.

My vote is for the woven fence that Beverly suggested and then plants in front of it. You will get much more of a sense of privacy that way.

Large planters would be great, but they are also very heavy, and the weight would be a concern of mine. I'd find out if the deck could support an extra couple hundred pounds.

Thank you, everyone! These are great ideas!

Additional thought, IF you decide on a fence & the HOA permits it, as just a matter of courtesy I would discuss it with your neighbors. However, I still believe plants much nicer..

How about wooden trellis with plants sitting in front. Trellis could be fastened to railing so won't fall over.

There are tons of trellises online with built in planters at the bottom.

A planter full of bamboo will do the trick and quickly.

I really like the idea of trellis with a planter at the bottom. Especially if I can anchor to the railing. Although the square pots are a good idea, too, I'm worried that they will be heavy to manage. This is a summer place so whatever I use for screening must be able to withstand winter weather alone (ATL) or I'll have to bring inside and I honestly don't think I have room for a greenhouse in my 440 square foot condo! So a question about bamboo...is it easy to trim back✂️?

I'd stay with something that can be broken down and stored in the winter months. That means no heavy planters or real plants. (Because who would take care of them in the winter?). I suggest the slatted screen, in easy to move paneled sections. With your neighbor's permission, they can be wired to the dividing fence.

You might check the garden web portion of this site for specifics on care and types of plants.

What about a woven fence with a planter with vining flowering annual, such as morning glories or trumpet honeysuckle to cover?

We love all the ideas and examples with planters.

I do like the trellis idea combined with planters of some sort. I would advise going with powder coated aluminum construction. You will avoid any rusting issues this way. Instead of a woven wire or wire square mesh in a frame you could keep the design light by doing a small square bar infill in either a consistent pattern or a bit of an abstract one with large openings. 12 x 12 inch lets say. Most of our zones climbing varieties of plants will easily navigate this.

This aluminum trellis and fence project was designed so the top will grow over with climbing vegetation to hide the splash pad pump when viewed from the second floor deck.

A trellis with planter is a good idea. Use something that will grow fast like morning glories and moon flowers. Gardener Supply has planters that are "self watering" which means it will have a water reserve that holds water and uses a wick. Cuts down on watering!

Hi suzgal59, McNICHOLS offers a product that could help you toward your goal—ECO-MESH®. These Wire Mesh panels provide a captive grow space for climbing plants. A green facade offers the benefits of privacy, sound buffering and aesthetic appeal, just to name a few. If you have any questions, our associates are glad to walk you through the options. Good luck to you!