Make a seating area feel more private. Have a seating area in your yard but find you rarely feel like using it? If so, perhaps privacy is an issue. Even if you don’t think you mind seeing or hearing neighbors, you will probably feel more comfortable if you can increase privacy. Hedges and climbing plants can provide a living wall, and solidly constructed benches, planters and shade covers can add to the feelings of privacy and safety. Consider also adding a water feature if neighbors are close — it will mask your own conversations as well as cut down on chatter from the other side of the fence.
Layered materials. Dense materials such as metal, stone, brick and concrete are by far the most effective at absorbing sound waves from traffic or industrial machines. Layer with lighter materials, such as hedges and wood fences, to block more sound than if the materials were used individually. Adding a more peaceful sound such as the splash of water can also help. The designer of this Seattle courtyard did both: A free-standing metal wall with a built-in fountain adds privacy from neighbors and cuts the noise from a nearby street, while the falling water introduces a soothing sound.
Wood lattice. Inexpensive and widely available, crisscrossing wood lattice is a great screen material for partial privacy. To more fully conceal an outdoor shower, the designers of this Woodside, California, backyard planted fragrant pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum, zones 8 to 10) to fill in the gaps in the lattice. The spaces between the wood slats allow air to move freely and light to filter through to help dry the area after a rinse.
Free-standing walls. Staggered Cor-Ten steel and wood panels create a feeling of privacy in this Seattle front yard without completely closing the garden off from the street. Play with the heights of free-standing walls — notice how the ones here are sized to block a parked car from view — to adjust to the specifics of your site and what you’d like to screen.
Le jardinet SaveEmail Origin: Blue Surprise was cultivated in the Netherlands; the species is native to Oregon and California. Where it will grow: Hardy to -15 degrees Fahrenheit (zones 6 to 9) Water requirement: Average to low; do not overwater Light requirement: Full sun or light shade Mature size: 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide Seasonal interest: Year-round When to plant: Spring or fall Planting notes: This tree is now available from Monrovia on disease-resistant rootstock.
Wissel’s Saguaro False Cypress (syn. Wissel’s Saguaro Lawson’s cypress, Wissel’s Saguaro Port Orford cedar) (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Wissel’s Saguaro’) This is a conifer with attitude. With oddly bent branches like the cactus, this stands out from other plants by virtue of its shape as well as its deep blue-green color. This is my go-to conifer for narrow spaces, since it rarely grows wider than 2 feet. Origin: The species is native to Oregon and California, but this cultivar was developed in the Netherlands. Where it will grow: Hardy to -10 degrees Fahrenheit (zones 6 to 8) Water requirement: Average; do not overwater Light requirement: Full sun or light shade Mature size: 8 to 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide Seasonal interest: Year-round When to plant: Spring or fall Planting notes: Plant it in well-drained soil.
Evergreen Trees Forever Goldie Golden Arborvitae (syn. Forever Goldy western red cedar) (Thuja plicata ‘Forever Goldie’) Forever Goldie is the golden teddy bear of the conifer world that just begs to be hugged. In spring and summer, it moves through shades of chartreuse to gold, while in winter it takes on an orange cast. This outstanding cultivar is one to include no matter how large or small your garden may be. Origin: This cultivar was discovered in the Netherlands in 2002 as a seedling. Where it will grow: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 3 to 7; find your zone) Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 15 to 20 feet tall and 3 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Does not shed; scorch resistant; tolerates a wide range of soil conditions Seasonal interest: Year-round When to plant: Spring or fall Planting notes: Since this was just introduced in 2011, it is not easy to find landscape-size trees. I recommend purchasing a small one and enjoying it in a container for a few years before transplanting it. The one shown here was purchased as a 15-inch-tall plant in a 1-gallon pot four years prior to this photograph’s being taken. It is now appro...
Create one dedicated quiet space. If surrounding your entire courtyard or urban garden with dense plants is not feasible, make one quite spot in your landscape by surrounding and enclosing just that one area. The pergola-covered seating area in this Dutch urban garden creates a quiet section in one corner of the outdoor space.
Plant densely. Think about how you can create a bubble of vegetation that surrounds your space to block out sound. Dense vegetation, planted as a sound barrier around your garden, will filter some of the noise. Trees in 5- or 10-gallon sizes can be planted 10 feet apart to dampen sound and mimic a woodland setting. They will grow more upright, instead of branching out wide, as they compete for light. Plant the perimeter of your property thickly with trees, but leave open space in the middle to allow sunlight in. Small multistem trees are good candidates for this type of planting in small spaces: Consider birch (Betula spp.), serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) and native hollies like possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua, zones 5 to 9) or yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria, zones 7 to 9). Shown: A woodland of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) planted densely with other layers of vegetation
Plant columnar plants. You can plant a living hedge in narrow garden spaces using upright, columnar trees. Some popular tall and skinny trees that provide quick vertical vegetation include columnar varieties of red maple (Acer rubrum ‘Columnare’, USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone), ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’, zones 5 to 10) and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Columnaris’, zones 4 to 8). Columnar plants are bred to grow upright, and they can be maintained as skinny hedges with regular pruning. Here, columnar European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’) is planted in a container garden on a Chicago rooftop. Columnar hornbeam can spread wide if left unpruned, but it responds well to harsh pruning to keep it shaped as a hedge.
Fill containers with many types of plants. If you are limited to planting only in containers, use all of the available real estate in your pots, planting each one fully. A large container, like the one shown just beyond the door in the photo here, can have a small tree, low grasses and trailing vines all planted in it. Combine plants to achieve as much vertical layering as you can to reduce noise.
Identify, with as much accuracy as you can, where the noise is coming from and how it’s reaching your backyard or courtyard. Whether the noise you are trying to block is ambient, like adjacent highway traffic, or single-source, like a neighbor’s air conditioner, the tips here can help you create quiet in the garden. The designer of this tiny urban garden in New York City used many sound-reducing ideas to create a private oasis. The dense vertical planting, location of the sitting area and sound-absorbing ground materials all help to block noise.
6. Ornamental grasses. Ornamental grasses are best for privacy during the summer and autumn seasons, since most ornamental grasses reach their full lushness in the warm months. How to plant. Plant ornamental grasses in highly visible areas adjacent to spaces in your yard that are used most often in the summer. Choose species that reach at least 3 to 4 feet in height, and use them to fill in gaps. Example Species ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, zones 4 to 9), cultivated from a plant that’s native to the U.S. Midwest ‘Karl Forester’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, zones 5 to 9), cultivated from a European native Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii, zones 3 to 9), native throughout the Midwest, West and Southeast U.S. Pacific Island silvergrass (Miscanthus floridulus, zones 6 to 9), native to the Southeast U.S.
3. Hedge plants. A hedge is most easily made from columnar trees or upright shrubs. Plants that make great hedges respond to pruning by becoming more dense. How to plant. To form a continuous hedge, space plants about half their mature width apart to provide full screening when pruned. For example, an English yew (Taxus baccata) that grows to a mature width of 10 feet should be planted 5 feet on center. (On center refers to the measurement between the plants’ root base.) Example Species Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare, Zone 4), native to Central and Southern Europe. Caution: The leaves and berries are poisonous. Yew plum pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus, zones 8 to 11), native to Japan and eastern China Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica, zones 7 to 11), native to southern China
2. Evergreen shrubs. Coniferous evergreen shrubs and broadleaf evergreens provide privacy for sightlines that are lower to the ground. Use shrubs to create a low screen around your patio or other sitting areas. How to plant. As with evergreen trees, space your planting of evergreen shrubs so that their branches slightly touch. This will give them room to grow in and will allow their branches to overlap some over time. Example Species ‘Sungold’ sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Sungold’, zones 3 to 7), native to Japan. Caution: All parts are poisonous if ingested. Japanese holly (Ilex crenata, zones 5 to 8), native to Japan and eastern China. Caution: The fruit is slightly poisonous. Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine, zones 6 to 9), native to the U.S. Southeast. Caution: The fruit is poisonous. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, zones 8 to 11), native to the U.S. Southeast.
Plant Types 1. Evergreen trees. Evergreen trees make excellent privacy screens because they provide year-round coverage. Evergreens with large foliage or evergreen conifers with branches that extend to the ground are the most useful for privacy. How to plant. To create a dense privacy screen, space evergreen trees so that their branches just touch one another. Or mix evergreen trees with evergreen shrubs, like in the photo here, if you have the space to create a wide privacy screen. Example Species ‘Green Giant’ western redcedar (Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’, USDA zones 5 to 8; find your zone), native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, zones 5 to 9), native to Japan Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris, zones 7 to 10) or Slash pine (P. elliottii, zones 7 to 10), native to the U.S. Southeast Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora, zones 7 to 9), native to the U.S. Southeast White spruce (Picea glauca, zones 2 to 6), native throughout Canada and the northern United States, or blue spruce (Picea pungens, zones 2 to 7), native to the Rocky Mountains and some of the U.S. Northeast
Planting a green hedge often is the easiest way to screen a neighboring property from view. The lines of this tidy hedge echo those of the patio, making it feel more like a freestanding architectural screen rather than an ominous wall. As a bonus, the hedge becomes a lovely backdrop to the perennials and ground covers planted at its base.
hhh! This narrow space feels like a secret garden where you might want to speak in a hushed voice. While the property is situated very close to the neighboring one, the lush, textural row of clumping bamboo converts it into a beautiful and private path enclosure. The only sounds you'll hear are the crunch of your sandals across the gravel path and the rustle of bamboo fronds when there's a breeze.
Sometimes all you need to do is pull the curtains closed. Oh, wait — no curtains on your deck? No problem. This porch was converted instantly into a sweet outdoor hideaway with the addition of affordable metal rods and panels of all-weather fabric on rings. It's a great privacy solution and a smart way to protect yourself from gusts of wind.
Add a wow factor to an enclosed patio with a stunning three-dimensional metal screening system. Perforated metal bands with a bronzy patina have been "woven" in and out of upright posts to form an extraordinary garden wall. Add a few trees and some strategically placed uplighting, and the space becomes dramatic and thoroughly private.
Lattices can be painted or stained for additional visual interest. A deep, earthy tone like this blends well with the surroundings and keeps the lattice from standing out.
Lattice is a great option for separating your yard or patio from the neighbors. It's more open than a wall or fence but still offers plenty of privacy.
Etsy SaveEmail One of the great things about lattice is that it offers the perfect spot for growing climbing plants, such as beautiful jasmine or roses. The vegetation adds charm and character while increasing privacy.
Fences and walls are great for creating privacy, but when they're tall enough to keep passersby from peeping in, they can block the light as well. Even the tallest lattice fences allow plenty of light to flow through.
The patio extends down the side of the house, ending at a red lime-wash-painted wall. The feature wall highlights a DIY garden ornament that's visible from inside the house. Wall lighting makes the garden feel magical at night.
They built 9-foot-high fences on either side of the patio for more privacy. "We didn't want the fences to be all the same, so we created themes," says Dominic. The fence on the right is lined with a horizontal pattern of Merbau wood from Southeast Asia. by Bagnato Architects Bagnato Architects SaveEmail The opposite wall is covered with layers of cement boards cut in a random pattern. Dominic finished the wall himself with a rust-effect paint. The paint contains iron fiber that reacts to an acid coat; it's applied in layers. Just after he finished painting, a rainstorm hit, giving the treatment extra wear. The Bagnatos incorporated plants that smell, taste, look or feel interesting for their children to experience. Four kinds of fruit trees, pots full of herbs and planters with different succulents delight the senses.
This traditional-style fence is quietly gorgeous in black. As with all paint, test your choice first. Colors will read differently with sun, cloudy skies and shade. Black looks particularly smashing in overcast climates. A great fence color is Studio Green by Farrow & Ball. This green is so dark, it appears almost black.
Gilson Group Landscape Design SaveEmail Wind chimes, bells, flags or bunting when activated by a breeze can also contribute background sounds that help muffle unwanted noise.
AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. SaveEmail Create additional layers of white noise. Multiple layers of desirable sounds work together to mute or take attention away from undesirable noises. A simple water feature may provide enough soothing sound to distract from annoying noises.
Select plants with sound suppression in mind. Wide, dense plantings that include both deciduous and evergreen plants are the most effective for year-round noise abatement. Plants set in motion by the wind create their own sounds that are generally appealing — celebrated in music and literature — and that can help mask offensive noises.
Berms or retaining walls and lush plantings can create a peaceful and intimate hideaway.
Carve out a quiet space. If building a tall sound barrier is impractical, consider building a sunken space for outdoor gatherings instead. While creating height inversely, a sunken area has the additional benefit of a sound-deadening soil surround.
Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design SaveEmail Planting in a raised bed is a way to create more height quickly. This is particularly helpful when budget or municipal codes limit how tall your built structures can be.
Therefore, combining a wall or fence and plant material is ideal.
Conversely, when flexible surfaces are hit by sound waves, they vibrate more and absorb more sound. Plants absorb and diffuse sound via their leaves, branches, twigs and bark.
color on fence
Katherine Roper Landscape & Garden Design SaveEmail One doesn’t need to actually stand or sit in the garden to enjoy it. The Zen garden is a work of art, and the pleasure is in the viewing. Despite all the shrubbery, there’s no mistaking the Asian influence here — the materials were kept simple, and a shoji screen was chosen for the backdrop. How lovely to start the day with a cup of tea and a dose of mindfulness.
A bamboo screen is another great backdrop for a Zen garden, and with standard fence-height rolls available at major home improvement chains, it’s a more affordable alternative to shoji screens.
When designing your new house or retrofitting for a new system, remember that a happy air conditioner is one that doesn’t have to work so hard. One way to ensure this is to use energy-efficient methods of home design that can reduce your reliance on air conditioning and keep as much cool air inside your home as possible. Another way to design an efficient system is to make sure that your unit has a cool, shady spot in which to work. Place it on the side of the house with the most protection from the sun, so that it doesn’t heat up too much. This will keep it running more efficiently (which is great for the wallet) and can help avoid noises and malfunctioning associated with overheating.
Add drapery for privacy, sun protection, softness and drama. Drapery panels are effective at softening the harsh rays of the sun as well as making your patio a bit more private and cozy. They’re also more flexible than shades, allowing you to shift them left to right as needed.
Consider practicality. On the other side of the coin, it's important to match the materials, size, location, durability and long-term sustainability of the walls, hedges or fences to their intended use. Security requires impregnability the way masonry or a tall iron fence can (we'll steer clear of barbed wire and gun turrets). Privacy means making smart decisions about height and density, so you can avoid prying eyes. Retaining walls require a certain level of mass and adequate footings to resist the forces of gravity.
Leave some breathing room. Although it might be tempting to use every inch, don't: The patio can quickly look cluttered. Coffman purposely left some simple turf space in the middle to avoid an overwhelming feel.
Add an artistic focal point. This ceramic agave, which wasn't part of the original plan, quickly became an integral part of the design. For more personality, the piece is paired with yellow and turquoise accents, colors pulled from favorite paintings inside the home.
Don't let strict HOA guidelines deter you. The homeowners live in a development and can't modify or attach anything to shared walls, so Coffman got creative. He incorporated freestanding yellow stucco walls for color, character and spatial definition.
Create an all-weather, all-day space. Coffman wanted the homeowners to enjoy the backyard rain or shine, so he incorporated different shade variations: a fully covered dining space, a partially shaded living room and an open-air fire pit. Carefully placed uplights and the fire pit make the spot just as enjoyable at night.
Coffman Studio SaveEmail Properly divide your rooms. Resin panels on both sides of the fire pit help define that area, distinguishing it from the outdoor living room. Dramatic uplights also enhance the nighttime ambience.
And who will be enjoying it. Be sure to have something for everyone, including kids and pets, in your refreshed outdoor space. In this instance the homeowners have two large dogs, so Coffman included a synthetic lawn. The artificial grass even has an antimicrobial treatment for quick cleanup. Ceramic agave: custom, James Sudal; brown paint: Tea Bag, Dunn-Edwards; yellow paint: Rubber Duckie, Dunn-Edwards; artificial grass: ForeverLawn
Trellis and brick. Possibly the most indoor-like outdoor space of the bunch, this patio features latticework mounted between brick pillars for an airy garden-room vibe. Lantern-style sconces and a potted topiary give a formal, finished feel.
Pergola with trellis. Using a trellis is an elegant and easy way to disguise an unsightly view or add privacy. Positioned at the corner of a deck, this pergola provides privacy from neighbors and a bit of dappled shade, thanks to two trellised sides.
Stacked-stone wall. A stacked-stone retaining wall and flagstone patio create a private nook perfect for enjoying evenings around the fire. Plantings around and above the wall contribute to the cozy, secret-garden feel.
Freestanding trellis. This cedar trellis acts like a garden wall, extending the height of the low fence behind it. Strong, sturdy and covered in climbing plants, the structure brings privacy to the seating area and defines the outdoor space.
Decide on a focal point. Your outdoor space needs and deserves a focal point, just as much as its interior counterpart. The focal point is the glue that holds the entire composition together. Its identity should be determined before any accessories are added, because those accessories are merely supporting actors in the production. Your focal point should be roughly in scale with the size of your space, as is this narrow outdoor fireplace. However, a case may be made for going slightly larger, as it will then command more attention
Add a window. Garden windows are portals to the world beyond. By thoughtfully placing them, you can let a small part of the outside world in on your terms, or provide a way to look out at it.
Consider the run of your fencing, horizontal or vertical, because each brings a very different feeling to the space. Vertical fencing pulls the eye upward and can reduce perceived scale, making people feel smaller. Horizontal fencing creates a secure feeling of enclosure, rather like a hug. It also keeps the eye moving around the space, discovering new things.
If your garden walls cannot be changed, consider building one or more screens and painting them black to achieve the same look. Screens also cover a multitude of design sins, such as trash cans and HVAC units.
Polycarbonate Polycarbonate panels create screens that allow for light and privacy here. This is obviously not a natural material, but I love the opportunities these panels provide. With a modernist sensibility, mixing materials like these with materials in an older vernacular can be artfully done. Purists, hold your comments!
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