Better than a privacy fence?

​If privacy is a concern in your backyard, and you're considering putting up a fence, maybe it's worth letting your landscaping do the job? None of us wants to build a ten foot wall all the way around our property. Fortunately, there is a better and more beautiful way!
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Using foliage to create privacy is not only a more friendly way to keep out prying eyes, it'll also make your space more green—while saving you some green! And who doesn’t want more green in their garden? Plants are incredibly versatile as they can be planted in the ground or in movable containers. They can be shaped and trained to grow up and over  structures. Using fast growing evergreens or bamboo will grant you year-round privacy. Or, if you decide to use plants that drop their leaves in the winter you can let all the extra light in—you're not going to be out by the pool then anyway, right? Whatever your privacy—or budgetary—needs happen to be there are plants that will fit the bill.

Here are 5 fast-growing, affordable, low-maintenance recommendations as an alternative to fencing:

Arborvitae
Its thick evergreen foliage creates a dense hedge when trees are spaced properly, it tolerates most soil conditions, and it's cold-hardy and low maintenance. There are several varieties of different stature, from dwarf to giant, so consider the plant's mature height and width when choosing arborvitae for your space. 

Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, so it will create a lush and exotic privacy screen in no time. 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. 

Privet
Fast-growing privet can get you privacy in a hurry; it can add between two and three feet to its height every year. When grown as a hedge, privet needs to be pruned regularly, but the work will pay off when the plant produces a thick cover of sweet-smelling flowers every spring!

Boxwood
Boxwood is a popular decorative hedge for formal gardens, but it's also beautiful when less strictly maintained. Allowed to grow freely, some varieties can reach 20 feet tall! Many people think of boxwood as a deep green plant, but there are also beautiful white variegated and gold varieties. Grow it as a fence or in a container and it will provide rich scenery and a lush, living wall to protect your yard from prying eyes.

Euonymus
Euonymus comes in a variety of sizes and colors. It's tall and sturdy and tolerates all types of weather and soil types. Planted close together, euonymus can serve as a lush hedge, while it can make just as big an impact when pruned into a tree shape.

For more plant recommendations or advice on how to leverage your foliage for privacy sake contact us today!