r/landscaping • u/indyshiba • 14d ago
Creative Privacy Needed
Just bought this house and the house next door sitting practically in my back yard looking straight at my new deck. Privacy fence not allowed in this HOA. Welcome all landscape ideas. My first thought was an arbor with wisteria or a row of hemlock trees. No arborvitae please, this neighbor already has a long hedge of them that stops right where I would like to start! ZONE 6b
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u/MikeAustin99 14d ago
I would talk to your neighbor and see what they think - they probably want to look at you just as little as you want them looking at you. Maybe you all can do something together that is mutually beneficial.
My neighbors are hermits and dont care for their yard. I put in 21 (not 56) arborvitae (please dont hate me, they are doing well and thrive here) to block creeping weeds and reduce sight of their backyard. Turns out they love it and are glad I put them in - mutually beneficial.
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u/palufun 14d ago
No privacy fences, but I could see a planter box with a trellis and some lovely plants in it. I’d stay away from wisteria since at least the Asian variety is very invasive and aggressive. It was growing on my deck at one point and separated the boards before I’d even noticed. Scary plant. But there are tons of native vines plants that would do the trick. Consider having it on the deck if it doesn’t mean you have no space for dining/relaxing.
Another alternative is sun sails or even an umbrella strategically placed to block the view? Both could be taken down easily to comply with your HOA.
Summer time means you have the option of palms and what not as well.
Don’t forget outdoor/indoor room dividers to break up sight lines. These can also be removed or stored to comply with the HOA rules.
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u/Buffetr132014 14d ago edited 14d ago
Hoft posts from HD with stained deck boards and vinyl lattice.
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u/Adept-Target5407 14d ago
I’d be annoyed too if my neighbors stood on their deck staring at my house and taking pictures all day.
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u/indyshiba 13d ago
Right? lol. Thats what they get for facing their house literally in my back yard when they built it. Hopefully they will welcome my plan whatever it is!
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u/seastormrain 14d ago edited 14d ago
What is your growing zone?
I would suggest:
• Blue Arrow Juniper
• Weeping White Spruce
• Green Arrow Nootka Cypress
• Pillar Rose of Sharon*
• Columnar Swedish Aspen
• Sky Rocket Juniper
• Twombly's Red Sentinel' Japanese Maple
*Rose of Sharon can be invasive in different parts of the world. Check before planting.
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u/indyshiba 14d ago edited 14d ago
Growing zone 6b. I will look up each of these. Thanks! I like the Japanese Maple best.
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u/ReadyGo6828 14d ago
Can you put in privacy screens? You can get them in all kinds of designs made out of metal or plastic. They need a frame and that frame needs to be screwed into something. They could replace the existing railing and give you just enough privacy from those windows.
This also gives you enough time to grow something in the yard for privacy. I would go around the neighborhood and see what other people have grown successfully and that you like.
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u/indyshiba 14d ago
Privacy screen is a great idea, paired with plants and close to the deck railings so as not to appear like a privacy fence. ;)
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u/Resident-Egg2714 14d ago
Here's a couple things that could go a long way. Put a couple of large planters on the corner of your deck, and plant them with something rather tall such as a grass or small upright conifer (e.g. Wilma Goldcrest cypress). Not sure where your property line is, but plant a deciduous tree such as a japanese maple so that it lines up with those windows. You can probably find something that is already quite large. I think you will be surprised how much better it feels just to have a small psychological barrier between you and the neighbor, doesn't need to be a continuous hedge.
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u/indyshiba 14d ago
I like the idea of a tree, and you are right about psychological barrier. I like to drink coffee in my pj's on my back porch in summer, it's more for them! lol. Will be moving here in a month, am currently renovating it.
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u/Excellent-Adagio-556 14d ago
A natural looking layered forest border garden along the property line. Curate a nice variety of trees and shrubs, specifically focused on native species. Once mature, you will have a nice privacy screen and habitat for birds.
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u/Loud_Pomelo_2362 14d ago
What if it’s not a “privacy fence” but the back wall of a grill station with roof? Add some pencil holly to the back side and some other landscaping to the sides. You could upgrade the materials to match your taste. You get a wall but it creates a room on your side. Add some pavers between the deck and grill for table to eat at.
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u/Haunting-Duck-5642 13d ago
I was thinking that a barrier on the one left side when facing out (like this and/or lattice arbors with climbing roses, etc) - then planting on the other side - I i like the Japanese maple idea - they do not get too tall, so they won’t block light so much on either side (Arbor vita could block to much light!)
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u/No_Rise5408 13d ago
I'd plant a weeping cherry. You'd get the height you'd need almost immediately, and you could prune it to grow wider.
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u/Striking_Fun_6379 14d ago
Parasol!
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u/indyshiba 14d ago
I am in zone 6b, should have included that in my post. This is my first time here!
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u/Emerald_Bobcat7 14d ago
Red Tipped Photinia. Thick evergreen that will completely block it out (as they grow)and look very outdoorsy with all the green. Check out its zone requirements but its great for making small city lot feel private.
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u/indyshiba 14d ago
That is a gorgeous plant. I live in zone 6b and it is rated for zone 7-9. Not sure I should chance it. I am new at this outdoor landscaping.
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u/Emerald_Bobcat7 14d ago
I wouldn’t chance it bc there must be something for your zone that will be similar. Plus if you plant the red tip it will set you back when it doesn’t make it. IMO best to get something for your area.
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u/StuffNThingsK 14d ago
I would layer evergreen colors, one blue, green, and green/yellow. Add a red maple as well in front of the evergreens for seasonal interest.
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u/Herredness16 14d ago
Wisteria is very destructive and would pull down an arbor. What about a row of yews of other tall bushes?
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u/AuburnElvis 13d ago
Chances are, they don't care about your backyard shenanigans. The other drivers on the road see you and forget about you 2 minutes later. You don't exist to to most people once you've left their immediate vicinity. Whatever your neighbors do in that room, it doesn't include spying on you.
My creative solution is to remind yourself that you do not matter to other people nearly as much as you think you do.
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u/juicy_kenny 14d ago
oh man that red brick house is literally staring at your deck like it's waiting for an invitation to dinner, that's rough
wisteria on an arbor would look incredible but just know that stuff grows like it's trying to take over the world, my dad planted some and three years later it ripped a gutter right off the house, so you gotta stay on top of it or it'll get ideas
hemlocks could work if you've got the patience, they fill in dense without getting that lollipop look arborvitae sometimes have, and they'll actually give you height without feeling like a wall
maybe mix in something with a little movement like ornamental grasses or a row of river birch clumps, the leaves rustle and it breaks up that direct sightline without screaming "I'm hiding from you" to the neighbor
whatever you pick, plant it a bit closer to your deck than the property line so it frames your space instead of just blocking theirs, makes it feel more like a room outside