A screen of mature, leafy trees can enclose outdoor space and provide a sense of seclusion in an effective and appealing way — especially helpful if your yard is overlooked by close neighbors or on a busy street. But there are other quicker solutions for boosting outdoor privacy with plants. From adding height with vine-covered obelisks to strategically growing and pruning shrubs, the following five ideas show how you can plant for privacy now.
1. Employ an Obelisk
Obelisks and tuteurs are pyramid-shaped structures that support climbing plants and are useful for adding height in the landscape. Height, of course, is what you’re aiming for to replicate the screening magic of a large, well-placed tree.
The beauty of an obelisk is that you can position it wherever you like, meaning it’s easy to pick the perfect spot to increase privacy or fill a gap that’s lacking height. Pop one into a raised bed or in the corner of your yard, or position several in a row.
Go as tall as you can and choose a fast-growing climber to scramble up it and create a column of foliage and seasonal flowers to screen you.
2. Cultivate a Mature Shrub
There are many shrubs that will grow tall enough to screen as effectively as a tree, and you may even already have some in your yard that could be repositioned or strategically pruned for the job. You can also grow shrubs as trees by pruning out side shoots.
3. Top With a Trellis
Adding height to your perimeter wall or fence with a trellis is possibly one of the simplest ways to increase a sense of seclusion in your outside space.
The beauty of this classic garden structure is that it’s designed to be filled with greenery. There is aesthetic variety in the world of trellises — this square geometric design is common, as is the diamond-shaped-hole equivalent. Slatted horizontal battens are also an option for a more contemporary look.
Note: Be aware of local fencing height regulations before installing a trellis on a perimeter fence or wall. An advantage of using a planted screen is that there can be fewer height and setback regulations than there are for constructed fences.
4. Pleach Young Trees
Pleaching can be very effective for screening purposes.
5. Plant in Pots
Planting young trees or shrubs in large pots or raised beds gives you the opportunity to lift them up, meaning they’ll do the screening job of an older specimen faster. It also means you can pop in a tree even where there’s no flowerbed, perfect if you have a terrace, courtyard or balcony that needs a green screen.
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