My neighbor erected three ugly plastic storage buildings along our shared lot line, just in my line of vision from the lawn chair on my deck. Even though the buildings aren’t straight off the deck, my eye was constantly drawn to the eyesores. What to do?
Discarding the illegal and impractical alternatives, I was left with three landscaping options. The first was to plant something tall around the deck so I couldn’t see over to the buildings. I rejected this idea because I didn’t want to cut off the view to my own yard and pond and didn’t want the deck to feel enclosed. Besides, as soon as I stepped off the deck, the problem would still be there.
The second option, the one I ultimately chose, was to plant something along the lot line to screen the buildings. I simply transplanted a medium-sized red-twig dogwood from elsewhere in the yard. In two years, my view of the sheds was completely blocked, at least for the part of the year that the shrub has leaves. If it was important to block the view in winter as well, I could have planted a large evergreen shrub or tree. In fact, there is already an intentionally overgrown evergreen shrub blocking the view of the same neighbor’s garage which is adjacent to the storage sheds.
My third option would have been to plant a specimen plant somewhere between my deck and the lot line. A specimen plant is a plant placed conspicuously alone, usually in a prominent place, to show off its ornamental qualities. It provides a focal point, drawing the eye and distracting it from looking further.
Landscape plants serve many purposes other than just looking pretty. Blocking a view is one function; providing privacy is another. All three of the above eyesore blocking options could also provide privacy for my deck.
Fences, of course can also provide privacy, but hedges or tall plants provide visual privacy when noise control is not necessary, although leaves and needles do absorb some noise. Unlike fences, plants allow air to circulate.
Some shrubs that make good privacy screens include bayberry, privet, chokecherry, oakleaf hydrangea, roses, lilacs, serviceberry, many viburnums, winterberry, cotoneaster, bridal wreath and dogwood. For year-round privacy, some evergreens you could use are arborvitae, yews, junipers, boxwood and hollies. If you have a little patience and privacy is needed a little higher above ground level, plant small trees like redbud, flowering crab, tree hydrangea and tree lilac. For shorter-term privacy, there are many tall annuals and perennials. Many of the native prairie plants grow to eight or ten feet or more. Even container plants can be moved around to provide temporary privacy.
Always take into account the view from inside the house as well as the outside before making changes to your landscape. And be sure that the plants you choose are suited to the conditions in which you are placing them.
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