I will bet there was some privacy before those trees were cut down. It looks you are trying to block your view of the neighbors. Only a tall screen attached to deck will do that.

We have a privacy wall on one side of our deck similar to this, but our slats are vertical instead of horizontal. Obviously you wouldn’t have to do your whole deck, just in line of where you feel the prying eyes are coming from.

You might want to use faux greenery

We put a hot tub under our deck and used planter boxes with trellises and faux greenery. We love it!

too bad someone cut down those trees before you moved in. mature trees add tremendous value and privacy. you do have to wonder what whomever was thinking when they made that decision...