We’ve worked with all of these scenarios and then some. We know there are a lot of reasons why you want to create privacy in your backyard—and you deserve it. You’ve invested in an outdoor living space and now you want to enjoy it without prying eyes or unsightly views.
Of course, the first conclusion that might come to mind with privacy is a fence. While it’s true that a privacy fence could potentially block a view, it won’t necessarily block everything. A fence may also come with added maintenance that some people just don’t want to deal with. Oftentimes, privacy plants are the best way to create screening in a way that is more natural and sometimes even more effective than a fence. While privacy planting may sound easy to do, there are some important considerations to keep in mind.
Planting privacy trees and shrubs may sound simple enough that you might consider tackling it on your own. However, when homeowners attempt DIY privacy planting, they often make mistakes that defeat the purpose such as choosing plants that are too small or that won’t fill out enough to block a view.
We often find that homeowners don’t consider the horizontal space that they have to work in. Some plants not only grow upward but outward, too. The placement of the plant is also crucial. Sometimes you can actually get more privacy by planting a tree or shrub closer to your patio or pool than planting it right along the border of your neighbor’s property (as people often do when they’re tackling privacy planting on their own).
Sometimes a combination of fencing with trees and shrubs will help create a well-screened yard. If a pavilion is part of the project, maybe even a wall or even a roof might contribute to increased privacy. It all depends on the angles and the layout, which are points that will be considered by a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA).
At Earth, Turf, & Wood, when we work on a landscape design, we work with a plan that shows where the neighbors’ houses are as well as where anything else that you want to screen out is located. In other words, we’re looking at the big picture and we’re playing around with a lot of different placement ideas in order to figure out what works best. That level of detail is not something you’ll get when doing it on your own.
Using an RLA who has experience with planting privacy trees and shrubs is also going to ensure that you get the best privacy plants for your space and that they’re placed in the best possible way. An RLA will also ensure that it’s designed in a way that’s attractive so that it’s both functional and aesthetically appealing.
But you can still have privacy with a well-thought out landscape design. We’ll talk more about choosing the right combination of trees and shrubs, next, but the point is that you can have both beauty and privacy in a landscape that is given professional design attention.
When it comes to the best possible screening for your landscape design, using a combination of different trees and shrubs will go a long way in creating a beautiful landscape. At ETW, our goal is to use a juxtaposition of color and plant type to make it as beautiful as it is functional.
Here are just some of the specific privacy trees and shrubs that we like to use in our privacy planting designs:
Understanding what plants work well and in what combination is definitely something that goes into a thoughtful design, prepared by a professional. But it’s not just DIYers that can make mistakes. A thoughtless approach to a privacy design is a mistake that even professional landscapers make if they don’t have the experience.
While a lot of landscaping companies might say that they offer privacy screening, it’s really important that you find a company that specializes in design since it’s not as simple as lining up some trees and shrubs.
At ETW, we offer a standard one-year plant warranty, which can be extended when homeowners sign up with us to maintain their landscape. If you are going to maintain your plants on your own, we’ll provide instructions on watering and upkeep. We want to help ensure that your landscape continues to thrive.
In addition to a warranty, you can also feel confident that you’re getting the experience and the know-how to get the best possible privacy planting design. We take all of the little details into account that can have an impact on the finished product. You’ll end up with a well-screened yard that not only meets your needs functionally but is also beautiful to look at. We believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice one for another. With a good design, you can have the best of both worlds.
If you’d like to talk about creating privacy for your own backyard oasis, contact us for a free consultation or give us a call at (717) 276-9447.