Raising height of privacy fence with plants?
berryfoot
10 years ago
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Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
10 years agosc77 (6b MA)
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Raised beds for privacy?
Comments (4)Thanks, Karin. Thinking about questions such as yours will help us to clarify what we want and how to arrive at a solution. A canopy or pergola over the patio would certainly help, but I don't think it would be sufficient. Dh wants a place to grill, not under cover, and to extend our existing patio (also not under cover.) Basically, we want to screen the entire backyard, small as it is, from three sides, with the rear being the most problematic. We'll add an irrigation system and hopefully a water feature that will help to muffle sound. The lot is smaller than we've had for many years, with closer neighbors, so I'm concerned that we may be sensitive to the noise. Your point about fence maintenance is well-taken, and I'm chagrinned that I didn't think about that. The fence is ours, set slightly inside our property line. We could get to one side and a small portion of the rear, but not the entire back, without going onto a neighbor's property. Since our dog died last year, and we don't plan on getting another, we could remove some or all of the fence and take care of screening with trees and shrubs. Perhaps just the rear of the fence could be removed if a raised planting area is constructed. Dh intends to have some fairly large trees installed rather than have to wait 5+ yrs. for growth. Our kids have not remembered to water very often, so I think the trees' failure to thrive was mainly due to lack of water as you suggested. However, the soil is hard clay with lots of rocks as well as some construction debris such as broken bricks. It's very hard to dig in, which is another reason we've done so little to this yard thus far. This job will be hired out. The drainage easement is inside our fence, and is only about 2 - 3 ft. across and 12 - 15 inches deep. At the low spot on either side of the yard, the fence has a section of wire mesh attached (mainly to keep the side neighbors' dogs from visiting ours previously.) We're hoping to build the raised bed about a foot behind this small swale and on back to the property line, which is how I came up with its 5 ft. depth. So far, I haven't seen very forceful water flow even after the last tropical storm. I'm envisioning a low border grass between the drainage area and the front retaining wall for the raised bed. Part of my concern is whether there would be enough space for tall narrow conifers and other skinny evergreens (although they could overhang the front somewhat.) I get the impression you think this is overkill, and you may be right. I need to play around with the idea of multiple pergolas/trellises and research what vines might thrive there. I sure would not mind finding a less costly solution, as I don't know if this will be our last house or not. Thanks!...See MoreSuggestion for fence line / privacy plant, native
Comments (20)I have 2 simpson stoppers and mine are slow. They are small leaved but not really hedg-y. They want to be trees with interesting trunks not bushes. I have mine planted in an informal hedge between our house and next doors, mixed in with native coffee and a variety of other natives including porterweed, hercules club, wild lime and many others. A new choice I've just added in the hedge to block the view is jatropha. It's bushy,flowery, butterfly beloved and will get tall. It's my new favorite in the hedge....See MorePlanting a 100' treeline privacy fence
Comments (35)I would definitely do a third norway and plant them in a well spaced grouping ... 2 at the back, one front and center ... as has been pictured above by myself and Vstvay. Since I later found my understanding of where the flanks are, was wrong, I would disregard that long screen flanked by tall material. I think you can use the arborvitaes to flank the norways. There isn't one exact right solution to this problem. There are things to avoid (like mixing up and alternating) If you want recommendations for specific plants, I would suggest post in the forum for your REGION or for trees, or shubs. Some so-called "shrubs" can become very large and you only need 15'. It is the shrub FORM that screens at the ground ("first floor") level. The tree form has exposed trunks and does not screen what is low. It screens 2nd floor level and above....See MoreReplace fence or living fence for privacy
Comments (16)It's expensive to "level" ground as it requires a retaining wall. A slope is the less expensive way of dealing with grade change. That said, you're probably stuck with the grade you have. But you indicate there's planting space that you control on the other side of the fence ...? You need planting on one or both sides that grows above the fence height. Large shrubs (8' to 16') strategically placed would screen out all of the unwanted view above the fence. The planting could be a mixture of shrub variety for a very casual look, or or it could be a single species (as long as the light conditions are consistent) for a tidier, more tailored look....See Moreberryfoot
10 years agolucillle
10 years agoYardvaark
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10 years agoberryfoot
10 years agohoovb zone 9 sunset 23
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10 years agoberryfoot
10 years agoYardvaark
10 years agoYardvaark
10 years agoberryfoot
10 years agoYardvaark
10 years agoberryfoot
10 years ago
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