Creative Options for Adding Privacy to your Outdoor Spaces
It’s been said that “good fences make good neighbors” – and it’s true. From muffling backyard conversations from the ears of neighbors, to keeping noise from a neighbor’s property from disturbing your own peace and quiet, to containing the visual aesthetic of a personal Zen garden, to allowing homeowners to enjoy their yard without feeling visually exposed to neighbors or passerby, there are numerous reasons to desire some sort of fencing between your property and the rest of the neighborhood.
Incorporating visually pleasing barriers between adjacent properties not only enhances comfort but also can also add aesthetic value to a property. Whether hosting gatherings with friends and family or simply enjoying solo relaxation, blending natural beauty with functionality is the sweet spot for property barriers. A well-designed landscape plan that incorporates natural privacy elements with manufactured elements is an excellent way to transform an unruly outdoor space into a visually pleasing personal retreat.
Fencing
These narrow evergreen trees soften the look of the back fence line.
Fences are typically the first option homeowners consider when seeking to make their outdoor spaces more private. Solid barriers like wood or metal are effective at blocking views but can feel stark and imposing. They often create a boxed-in atmosphere that detracts from the natural beauty of outdoor spaces. Instead of blending seamlessly into the landscape, fences can create harsh visual interruptions among the natural curves and textures of a lawn or garden, making the yard less inviting – and even confining.
Many homeowners face the challenge of neighbors’ fences that don’t match the aesthetics of their own yard. Such fences may be outdated, weathered, or in poor condition, creating an eyesore that detracts from the overall beauty of the homeowner’s landscaping. Even a well-maintained neighboring fence can clash with the desired look and feel of your own space.
If the backside of a neighbors fence also serves the purpose of enclosing your own property but the look of the fence is less than desirable, there are some fixes available. Strategically placed shrubs, trees, or ivies can partially or fully block the fence from view while enhancing your own yard’s natural aesthetic. The available space, level of privacy desired, and the condition of the neighboring fence should guide decision-making around the best privacy plantings to install.
Plantings For Privacy
If you have the ability to create a privacy barrier from scratch, a combination of man-made fencing blended with natural plantings is a functional and aesthetically pleasing solution. There are dozens of landscaping options that can assist with visual privacy, muffle sound and lend a more natural look to a fence-line.
Tall hedges are a popular choice, offering a natural and visually appealing solution for creating privacy. They blend seamlessly into the landscape and enhancing the space’s beauty while also effectively blocking the yard from the view of neighbors. Once established, their dense foliage also acts as a sound barrier. One important note on planting hedges, be certain the rootball is planted fully underground. Some installers avoid digging to the proper depth and instead pile soil around the rootball. Rainfall soon washes away the piled soil, exposing the rootball to the sun – which in turn drys out the rootball. The shrub inevitably turns brown and eventually dies.
Strategically placed shrubs can be used to hide mechanical items like pool pumps or utility boxes on a property.
Evergreen trees are another popular option. Since they do not drop leaves, they provide a vibrant green backdrop for outdoor spaces year-round. With many varieties to choose from, there is certain to be a variety that visually suits the space and grows to a mature height that meets the homeowner’s privacy needs.
Evergreen trees also block-out sound well, making them especially useful for reducing noise from busy roads or noisy neighbors. Additionally, they require very little maintenance, so many homeowners prefer a row of evergreen trees over a hedgerow (that requires regular trimming).
Flowering trees or shrubs can achieve the same effect as hedges and evergreen trees when strategically planted. A variety of plantings with a wide range of textures and blooming seasons helps maintain privacy throughout the year while adding dynamic and visually appealing elements to the landscape. Choosing plants that bloom at different times of year ensures that the yard remains vibrant and colorful, even as the seasons change.
This mixed-planting approach provides consistent privacy and also creates a beautiful, ever-evolving tapestry of colors, shapes, and scents that enhance the overall ambiance of an outdoor space. Such plantings are also beneficial to the local ecosystem, providing food and shelter to important pollinators and native bird populations.
Get Planting This Fall!
Work with the landscape experts at Heinen this fall to create your own private (and quiet) oasis!
Most privacy-creating landscaping choices involve larger plantings, such as trees and shrubs, which do best when planted in the fall. They benefit from the season because of the natural advantages that autumn offers. In the fall, the soil is still warm from the summer, while cooler air temperatures reduce stress on new plantings. This combination creates an ideal environment for trees and shrubs to redirect energy to root development rather than top growth. Establishing stronger root systems in the fall makes such plantings better equipped to handle winter’s challenges along with giving them a head-start for the spring growing season.
Determining which plantings to use for privacy can be confusing with so many options available. A good place to start is Heinen’s Online Plant Catalog, which offers over 150 different plant varieties, all selected for their ability to thrive in Kansas City’s climate. Each listing includes photos of the plant along with useful information regarding sun or shade-friendliness, best soil type for the plant, and more – all designed to help homeowners make the best choices for their individual landscaping needs. And, when you’re ready to start planting, the landscape specialists at Heinen are here to help!
