What is your plant hardiness zone and general location? What is the measurement of the grass area from patio to fence?

I have planted and like Green Giant arborvitaes (GG). You have a fence so you shouldn’t have to worry about deer browse, if that’s an issue in your area. My experience is that they need to be well watered during at least the first season (longer if your area is in drought) until established.

I wanted larger ones so I had them installed by a landscaper. The landscapers had their guys stand in various spots with poles so I could judge the height and placement from several vantage points (patio, house window). Give the GGs a lot of space as they quickly grow taller and wider.

depending on zone... https://www.monrovia.com/red-dynamo-photinia.html 

7-11 good color interest year round.

Link doesn't work but the Photinia would not be tall enough to screen the house. It would be lower than the fence.

Another idea would be to have a few (strategically placed) tall white lattices made and if needed, make taller if needed per below. Once the vines kick in and flowers are added in front you‘ll have an attractive addition to your yard, as well as more privacy.

I would think a tree shaped like a maple would block much more than an columnar arborvitae. But, of course, a maple loses its leaves in the winter. In what planting zone is this home located?

Hi thank you for all you responses. I am in zone 7. Long Island, NY.

Measurements from fence to patio is 15 ft and width is 46 Ft .

Plant a variety of trees and shrubs/ornamental grasses both by the fence and then up close to the patio.

You have 15’ from fence to patio. Mature GGs can be 12’+ wide. Are you okay with losing that much of your backyard’s grass area? There is a smaller variety that I think is <10’ height at maturity but I am not familiar with it.

Perhaps consider a narrower evergreen like a SkyPencil Holly (I have a couple in my yard that I like) or a narrow arborvitae or juniper.

I like @oncape’s and @Maureen’s photo suggestions too but that may or may not be enough winter screening. A patio umbrella that tilts can be effective too when seated on the patio.

Have a helper go outside with a pole in hand to get an idea of how high the trees needs to be to screen the neighbor’s windows.

How tall is your fence?

The first question is do you want privacy for your patio only when leaves are on trees or year-round? I'd probably do a larger tree, perhaps an evergreen in the corner. That should cover the left-most window. Then, I'd pick a smaller tree with a wide canopy, perhaps flowering to cover the middle windows. A pagoda dogwood, perhaps. I'd underplant with shrubs to have a corner garden.

It's worth noting that larger trees are expensive and don't transpant as well, and may need equipment to install, so you might have to plant smaller and wait a few years.

@Design Fan (NE z7a) has a good point. Are you looking for year 'round screening? I forgot about my Cherry Laurels which grow against my 8'ft pool fence!!! I use them to cover up the fence. They will grow as high and as wide as you want them to be. In last house we used them for tall foundation plantings. In the spring they flower.

In the fall there are red berries.

You prune every couple of years to make the shape and height you want. That's it.

In this photo, the laurels have been trained to make a high tight fencing.

More photos:

https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/laurel-along-fence-in-garden

Thank you all so much for the wonderful ideas, I truly love them all! Now I’m completely torn because there are so many great options to choose from.

I especially love the tree suggestions, including the flowering onee, they’re beautiful but I realize they may not work for my space since I’m really aiming for year-round privacy.

My fence is 5 ft tall, which is the maximum allowed by my town. Trees and shrubs can grow taller, but fencing cannot exceed that height.

I’m hoping to find options that provide privacy without getting wider than about 2-3ft, since the space from my fence to the patio is only about 15 ft and I don’t want to lose that open feel.

Please keep the ideas coming, I really appreciate all the input!

Leatherleaf mahonia be shaped to a tall hedge or small tree, keeps leaves all year and has nice flowers.

Stonehenge Skinny Yew is an evergreen with a very narrow width and I height of about 8' and rated for zones 4-7. Stonehenge Yew has a 4' width with a mature height of 10'. Skyrocket Juniper is another good option with a width of 2-3' and 15' ht. and zone 4-9. Strategically placed they can give you privacy and won't take up much of your lawn space and easy to maintain.

I too was thinking of taxus Stonehenge and Stonehenge Skinny, for height and narrowness. I'm guessing you want something at least 10 feet tall?

Perhaps you can do those on the left there, in front of the neighbor's house, and then do a flowering tree to the right, where even in winter the bare branches may provide enough privacy.

I have to say, I do really like Maureen's suggestion (and lovely photo!) of the lattice. It would be more expensive and more maintenance but I think it's a beautiful look.

:)

Dee

Thank you so much, I . love this suggestion too. I do want something with some height, at least 10 to 15 ft to help the privacy from the windows. I really loved Maureen's idea too of using lattice, but unfortunately my town regulations don't allow anything like that, any fencing or lattice structures can't exceed 5 ft.

Can you have a pergola over your patio? Also, even a tree after it loses the leaves in fall, gives some privacy because of the branches.

Thanks so much! I did think about a pergola but I just put in new pavers and I'm really enjoying the open, sunny look in the yard, so I don't want to cover it up. I also am trying to keep things pretty low maintenance overall, but I am not opposed to adding a larger tree in right side corner.