Many people agree that you can’t put a price on privacy. However, when it comes to landscaping for privacy, it can be difficult to know where to start. Open yards can be nice, but sometimes you want to create a boundary that prevents nosey neighbors from peeking in, which privacy landscaping design can achieve.
Whether you’re looking for pool landscaping ideas for privacy or just general yard encasement, the landscaping experts at Architectural Landscape Design have several ideas that will make your property look beautiful.
Privacy Fence
One of the simplest and most common ways to use backyard landscaping for privacy is to install a six-foot privacy fence. After all, not everyone has the space to add landscape berms for privacy. Privacy fences come in all sorts of shapes, colors, and designs, making it easy to match your style and home. Privacy fences are ideal for shielding backyards from the public eye, which is perfect when you need pool landscaping ideas for privacy.
Their height, which is taller than the majority of people, makes it difficult for strangers to peer over. The solid paneling, which can be wood, metal, vinyl, or a combination of materials, provides a barrier that no one can see through. With modern advances in design and installation, you can make your privacy fence look however you’d like.
It can be traditional, marked with elegant cutouts, covered in plants, or filled with stones. There’s no limit to what you can make of a privacy fence that will protect and add style to your privacy landscaping.
Privacy Panels
When landscaping for privacy, consider panels. Privacy fences have the potential to be gorgeous and effective, but they can also come across as harsh and exclusive. Plus, depending on the size of your yard, they can be a very expensive form of privacy landscaping.
A great way to achieve some privacy without cutting yourself off from the world is to install privacy panels. Privacy panels are similar to privacy fences in that they are solid and can be six feet high.
When you install panels, you only need to install a few here and there to give yourself elements of privacy with an open design. Rather than boxing your yard in, you can create a small patch of privacy, perhaps near a pool, deck, or sitting area.
That way, it’s up to you when you want to socialize and when you need to zen out with some alone time. Privacy panels, like fences, come in many different materials and can be solid walls or gapped shades. The choice is yours when you’re backyard landscaping for privacy.
Lattice and Climbing Plants
If you’re looking for a creative way to add beauty to your yard as you invest in backyard landscaping for privacy, consider creating a fence using lattice work and climbing plants.
Lattice work on its own can offer a bit of privacy, but it’s filled with holes and may not quite do the trick for you. Plus, latticework can be a bit plain and boring.
However, if you install a lattice and plant some climbing plants at its base, you can solve both problems. Many climbing plants will naturally grow upward to cover the lattice with leafy greens and stunning flowers. A few climbing plants that you could use include:
- Vines
- Climbing roses
- Star Jasmine
- Climbing hydrangea
Hedges
Hedges and landscape bushes are a classic and natural way to create boundaries on your property. Not everyone wants a six-foot privacy fence in their front yard for privacy landscaping. If you’re looking for front yard landscaping for privacy, hedges might be the way to go.
Not only do hedges add natural beauty to your yard, but they’re environmentally friendly and don’t require any extra materials. If you’re handy, you could even plant and maintain them yourself and really dive into landscaping for privacy. So, what hedges are the best? There are several different landscaping bushes for privacy, such as:
- Berkman Gold Arborvitae: An evergreen shrub that will keep its golden green coloring year-round. Once planted, it will grow to five feet tall and maintain its dense, ovular shape all on its own.
- English Laurel: A fast-growing evergreen that can fill out a lot of space. Once planted, it grows tall but requires regular trimming. The green foliage and white flowers are sure to add a stunning touch to your yard.
Large Plants
Maybe hedges are a little too plain for you, and you don’t have enough space to invest in landscape berms for privacy. If this is true, you can also opt for large plants to create natural property lines and boundaries when landscaping for privacy. Many varieties of landscaping trees for privacy can be perfect for making natural fences and blocking the view into your yard like the evergreen and green giant thuja. Both can grow up to 40 feet tall, making them excellent options for added privacy to your landscaping. Other large plants that can be suitable for enhanced privacy include:
- Hydrangea bushes
- Forsythia intermedia
- Hibiscus
- Rhododendron
- And more
Privacy Gazebos
Gazebos make a great addition to any patio or deck, especially when landscaping for privacy. These structures are movable and let you customize your privacy, giving you a mini-getaway without having to enclose your entire yard.
Not only can gazebos protect you from the beating sun and rain storms, but you can get them equipped with privacy screens. Set up a table and chairs underneath and pull the screens down to enjoy some alone time – either by yourself or with loved ones.
When you’re ready to let a nice breeze in, pull back the curtains and tie them up. Gazebos are ideal for temporary privacy and can give you an oasis right in your backyard. They’re also perfect for poolside relaxation, over hot tubs, and around grilling areas.
Layer Foliage
So far, we’ve mentioned hedges, large bushes, climbing plants, and trees offering privacy each on its own if you’re landscaping for privacy. But if you really want to spice up your privacy landscaping, try choosing some from each group for layered foliage.
By layering your foliage, you can create a diverse garden landscape with beautiful features. The variety of colors, fullness, and height make your yard dynamic and exciting. Layering your foliage creates a solid privacy wall against neighbors, highways, and public property.
Try layering trees with small hedges and flower beds. Toss in some flowering bushes or a few lattices with climbing flowers. You will never get bored if you layer your foliage, and the barrier will be impenetrable.
Keep in mind that layered foliage may require more upkeep. The more plants you have, the more work it will take to maintain the look, but it is certainly a rewarding process.
Bamboo
Bamboo can be a powerful tool in the world of natural privacy landscaping. Bamboo is a highly durable, fast-growing plant that can create very dense, tall walls. When left to its own devices, bamboo will spread like wildfire. When properly maintained and controlled, bamboo can make for the perfect barrier between you and your nosey neighbors.
If you’re going to let bamboo into your yard, you have to be prepared to prune it regularly. You can keep the plant’s growth under control as long as you trim it from the top at the more narrow points of the stems.
Bamboo grows in a lovely shade of green, so it makes a beautiful accent to your yard. It also has a tropical feel to it, and lots of people love it as a privacy shield for pools and jacuzzis. The plant also grows well in large pots. If you’re worried about it spreading too much, you can place several large pots of bamboo along fences, property lines, and decks for added privacy.
Enclosures
Achieving privacy through your landscaping doesn’t mean you have to install a great, big fence or landscape berms for privacy. You can maintain an open yard and choose a small section to create a private enclosure.
Enclosures can include panels, fencing, plants, privacy screens, latticework, and many of the other elements we’ve already discussed. You can shield off a small patio or deck area that may be home to seating, a firepit, a grilling setup, or a hot tub.
Enclosures can have just one privacy wall or several – it’s totally up to you to create the privacy that you prefer, whether that’s on all sides or not. Save a special place in your yard for family, guests, and alone time.
Final Thoughts
Privacy landscaping offers creative ways to keep your property an enclosed oasis for you and your family. These ideas can help kickstart your planning process to achieve your dream yard faster than ever.
Architectural Landscape Design is your premier Minnesota landscaping design company. We are passionate about helping homeowners and business owners alike transform their properties into attractive and functional spaces.
Contact ALD today to schedule a consultation. Don’t put off your dream landscaping anymore.