BACKYARD PRIVACY
BACKYARD PRIVACY
9 Outdoor PRIVACY Plants For SCREENING
If you’re the homeowner that desires a little isolation on your homestead, and a fast-growing natural greenery screen that offers privacy, you can make it happen with some right choices. There’s a great selection of trees, shrubs, and vines that can help you turn your property into a secluded retreat. This list will help you identify the plants that will flourish and find happy homes in your retreat.
1.BAMBOO
Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, so it can create a lush and exotic privacy screen very quickly. Some varieties of bamboo are invasive, so choose a slow-spreading, clumping variety, or consider planting it in large raised planters to keep it under control. While some can quickly get out of control, try Fargesia bamboos, which have clumping roots and grow more slowly than their unruly counterparts. There are many perks to Fargesia, including the fact that it’s fast-growing, evergreen and hardy, even in the cold.
2. ROSE OF SHARON SHRUB
This tall-growing deciduous shrub has a natural spreading habit that can easily serve as a shield for any homeowner that desires an amount of seclusion; moreover, it can be pruned into a flat shape. If you choose this plant for a natural green fence, it will reward you with mid-summer hollyhock-like blooms.
This one is a winner.
3. CYPRESS
There’s nothing like the tall, stately silhouette of a Cypress tree. These evergreens display tiny scale-like leaves and produce medium size cones that appear to have scales. The Arizona Cypress can grow to 40 feet tall and spread to 20 feet. It’s the answer to any privacy concern. Windbreaks or screens are popular with cypress. Italian Cypress is a thick, columnar form of a tree that can reach 60 feet. New growth puts on a show of golden yellow foliage.
4. BOXWOOD
Turn the foliage into a billowing wall by neglecting the pruning; ultimately, your clippers can transform the plant into shapes that look like globes or tiers. Boxwood is also an ideal evergreen choice for pots and planters. Try tall, slender containers to add height, and sculpt the boxwood for a privacy screen with a bold, manicured statement!
4. ITALIAN BUCKTHORN
Consider Italian Buckthorn for your privacy planting needs. It’s a great solution for a vertical evergreen screen that doesn’t require a lot of room at the base. It requires mostly sun in moderately moist soil and delivers a growth rate of 2′ per year. Under optimal conditions, it can double in size in about 3 years.
5. PRIVET
This shrub may be the most popular plant for hedge designs. A privet hedge running along a property border is a classic look. The very name seems to say "privacy," as if a line of these bushes could form the ideal screen for those seeking a more private setting. Many kinds are not especially beautiful plants when considered in isolation, but they do excel in the role of hedges.
6. ARBORVITAE
There’s something beutiful about the clustered, textured feel of Arborvitae’s greenery. Neat geometrical plants are available in globe shapes, cones or cylinders. American arborvitae has the potential to rise 60 feet into the air; consequently, it is the perfect privacy shield. Elegance is your choice.
7.PHOTINIA
If you are looking for an attractive, vigorously growing shrub with lush foliage, Photinia is worth a look. Fiery red foliage on new growth and dainty white flowers in spring are one of their best features, making them popular for screening. They can grow up to 5 metres in a full sun position and can tolerate frost.
8. VINES
If you have a 'not so private' fence with gaps or openings, a good climbing vine is a great solution for adding privacy and beauty to your yard. One option is Clematis, which grows quickly and produces beautiful blooms. However, be forewarned that this vine requires dedicated pruning to keep it from growing out of control so be prepared to keep it in check.
9. EXCELSA CEDAR
This variety of our native Western Red Cedar is often used when the Emerald Green Arborvitae isn’t tall enough or a more natural look is desired. Yet they aren’t so large as to overwhelm many planting areas. They look great and smell good—a nice, natural cedar. They are full and bushy for screening (fuller than the standard Western Red Cedar) and can be left to grow naturally or “hedged”.
Besides being an attraction and low-maintenance once established, a border defined by trees can have other beneficial attributes. It can provide year-round color, flowers, edible fruit or other useful features, depending on the type of tree you choose.
Terrain has teamed up with the region’s top architects and plant farms to bring you the best palette of botanical varieties. Since 1996 we have developed relationships with growers up and down the West Coast ensuring that the species we provide will be the best one available within the budget we have. Terrain can assist in transplanting, re-locating of plants and trees and removal of unwanted vegetation. We are big supporters of plant amnesty doing everything possible to find new homes for healthy plants that are getting removed. Terrain keeps on staff a plant horticulturist to ensure you always have the best advice.
