The magnolia, which if successful will grow many times larger than it is now is going to overwhelm the position and hang over the fence into the neighbor's yard. If needs to be moved to a place where it can stretch out and become a landscape feature.

If you are intent on having a mixed border right in front of the neighbor's dominating and distracting house, group evergreen shrubs on the ends of the part to be made the center of interest and have deciduous shrubs between these and the herbaceous (non-woody) plants - which should make up the bulk of the planting for a good balance. Vines can be trained on the fence for additional interest and softening behind.

In addition to moving the magnolia to a suitable spot to produce a charming scene the beds should be made mostly broader and definitely curving instead of straight.

I'm thinking hiring a competent landscape designer and telling them what you want to achieve, taking their advice would be very worthwhile at this stage.

Well this is a Susan Magnolia (little girl series) I think she can get to 8 to 10 foot high. Over the years we have kept her at about 6 foot high and 4 foot wide. I like the idea of a taller evergreen at the ends and maybe Rose of Sharon in between. Want to keep the carefree wonders but not sure we want to run them down the fence or not yet. I like the idea of curving the flower beds more but not sure how yet.

Looks comparatively okay so far but deciduous magnolias, like many other ornamental trees are basically "hands off" after the early years. As with saucer magnolia it might be possible to cut the whole thing down low once or twice over its useful lifetime and start it over (renovation pruning) but you will always have stumpy remainders of the original stems below the cuts with this approach - same as with serious heading back of their branches. Snipping at the outside lightly doesn't work because the flower buds are set on the branch ends the previous year. All heading back disrupts the natural branch pattern outline.

There is also no solid backdrop for it where now planted - and never will be unless the neighbor installs something later. In the photographic view used here the tree serves primarily to draw attention to the houses beyond. Likewise a swing in the middle of the fence would emphasize the neighbor's house rather than help obscure it.

You will probably have to plant at least one tree over there by the fence to reduce the impact of the neighbor's house. Notice how in your first picture the red maple is softening the house and framing the overall scene. In making garden areas you are composing views same as when taking photographs. The fountain, the swing, the magnolia are all subjects in a scene same as a person or a pet would be in a snapshot. For a lasting pleasing result you have to compose scenes within which your garden features are viewed - without visually competing elements around them. The magnolia has nothing but competition all around it in its present location. It needs a wall or shrubbery behind it to set it off, with nothing visible beyond creating a distraction.

The roses and hibiscus will want a sunny exposure, so if the fence is not south-facing or the neighbor's house shades the area for part of the day these might be just as well planted in the open. Various evergreen shrubs (not a row of one kind serving to emphasize rather than soften the architecture) that might appreciate the presence of the fence or neighbor's house (if they would provide some protection from sun burn in summer or winter) could be used in front of it instead.

For principals of bed and plant grouping layout in an easily read, essay format Grant, GARDEN DESIGN ILLUSTRATED can't be beat. Superior, honed ideas presented in an inexpensive format. Out of print but reprinted many times over the years prior; used copies are on the market.

Well someone mentioned placing the arbor swing on a diagnal in front of the magnolia and bringing the bed out and around the magnolia.. I was not sure of that look as then the arbor would be on a diagnal and facing the covered patio we have using the magnolia as a backdrop behind the arbor..I still could use Rose of Sharon at the fence for more privacy issues or evergreens. I really wanted a arbor swing also but can drop that idea and just use taller bushes along the fence for added privacy I guess.. Here is last summers shot of the backyard. The kids still use the trampoline so I have to keep that still...
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Bring a bed out from near the fence and around the maple. Plant shrubs in it to form a divider and screen the trampoline. Think of the garden as rooms with walls and furnishings. Divide it into rooms using trees (the ceiling), informal shrub plantings, hedging and fencing (the walls). Furnish these rooms with specimen shrubs like the magnolia, actual outdoor furniture like the swing, fountains, fire pits and other features. Arrange flowers so they are displayed in stage-like settings against fencing and shrubs, at suitable points in the flow of the plantings.

I like some upright evergreens and or maybe a flowering crape myrtle or Rose of Sharon in there somewhere along the fence. Just not sure which ones to use and where..Not sure what I can really use near that red maple as not much grows well under them from what I hear.

I think you should have an arbor swing if you want one. There are 1001 ways you could design your back yard that would look great. The possibilities are literally endless. A backyard should be a haven from the stresses of everyday life and if a swing relaxes you, you should include one. I would definitely angle the swing between the end of the privacy fence and maple rather than back it up to the fence. This adds to the idea of creating a "room" that incorporates the porch. I also think the shade from the tree will be peaceful in the summer. I don't think you have the room you need for an arbor swing in front of the fence. I would leave the magnolia for now. Work on other things and move it later if needed.

Now for the fence. Although a row of hedges sometimes works, I think a backyard should be more varied, lush and carefree. There are so many great plants to choose from and add interest, why limit yourself to just one? I personally would start by adding a small flowering tree or a very large shrub about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way down the fence. It's not just the fence that you want to block, but also the house. A pretty tree would draw your eye away from the house. Dogwood, Plum or Sweetbay magnolia come to mind. I would make the beds 4-5 ft. except I would curve it out even more where the tree is. I would continue the bed all the way around past the swing and a little past the maple. Along the fence I would choose something along the lines of azaleas, Korean boxwood or Juddi viburnum. Use variety, but in any one place plant several of the same shrub and stagger them. You do not need shrubs that are 6 ft. tall to hide the fence. If you landscape it right you won't even notice the fence because the landscaped bed will be so alluring. In front of the shrubs I would use a vareity of perennials. Choose 3-5 varieties that you like and plant them in groupings of the same type. You don't want a hodge podge of too many different things because then you loose the impact of each kind. Definitely plant hostas around the maple. Use ones of different sizes and colors.

In summary: Plant a tree in front of the fence to be a focal point. Use punctuated variety with your plants. Create an entire sanctuary in your back yard, not just a view blocker. Use curves everywhere...bed outlines and plant placement.

Almost forgot the roses. I would wrap another bed directly around the porch if there's room and enough light.

What I've learned to do, and this works for me, is I stand in my yard and look at the surrounding views from different angles such as my main sitting area, a main view from the kitchen window that I look at daily, etc. From that, I determine, what do I want to hide? What do I want to accentuate?

For example, in my yard, I want something to hide my view of the corner of my neighbors garage. So, I'm planting a tall arborvitae there. Next to that I have about 3-4 purpleleaf sand cherry shrubs, I will let grow into a trimmed up tree form, which will form a canopy for me, and it will be a nice contrast with the evergreen. That may work for you along this fence, rather than an actual hedge. My thought is, that's a nice fence, I don't know that you necessarily need to disguise it. Creating a canopy with trees gives a nice sense of privacy and enclosure, even if it isn't total obscurity.

Similarly, I have a downspout on the corner of my garage, and alongside the garage is where I keep my garbage can (no where else to put it), so I disguise it with a shrub. I no longer see the garbage can from my kitchen views. I'd plant a low growing shrub, peonies, annabelle hydrangea, etc. or anything waist high next to that post on your patio to disguise the downspout and soften it up a bit. Then behind that I'd plant a tall accent tree in the corner for interest (I'm not sure if that's a gate or closed off fence).

I'd also plant a small tree along the fence or close to it, directly in the view from the patio to the neighbors shed, so when you look over there, you notice your plant/shrub/tree and not the shed. You could add an informal curvy stepping stone (flagstone) walkway from the patio to the back gate.

I would place that fountain where it would be a focal point from the patio/terrace. Right now, it looks like it's alongside a pathway. Why not place it under the tree in a planting bed, surrounded by hostas? Or, add a large curve in the border around the fountain where it is, to accentuate it as a focal point?

I like the idea of Sweetbay Magnolia or what about Edith Bogue Magnolia?? I love the green leaves on Magnolias.. Can bushes or plants go under the magnolias or on either side to fill in the beds more along the fence? Would one or two magnolias work well along the fence and how far out from the fence? That is a gate that opens out to the front yard so it does not interfear with the back yard. If I put the arbor swing on a angle in front of the (now planted magnolia) and bring the bed out/around that might in time hide some of the neighbors shed from our patio view. I like the hosta bed idea around the maple but not sure which ones would really do ok under a maple tree..

According to the Hosta Forum people, planting under a maple tree is frustrating, at best. One problem quite possibly being, hosta afficionados water continuously - the maple loves this constant water supply, rewarding you with tangles of invasive roots heading for the surface and water source. Given the situation of maple + hostas + water, the maple is going to win.

Any hosta that is easy to grow that might do ok or else something like vinca or yellow stella lillies??

I realize that you posted this question a few months back but I just had to say...in case others are considering ROS as a privacy hedge to PLEASE keep in mind that your decision will also effect your neighbors. Our neighbor has lined about 20 ROS plants along his side of our 5 foot wood fence about 15 years ago. They are now about 15 ft high & they are a lot of trouble for us and I love to garden. My grass and flower gardens are taken over EVERY year by the seedlings. It is VERY difficult to control. I'm getting older and it's getting harder for me to make my yard look pretty becuase of someone else's choice. PLEASE keep this in mind.

A saw a similar situation that you have in your yard while on a garden tour. I was VERY impressed with the solution the garden owner came up with.

He used a row of Pyramidal European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ÂFastigiataÂ) at the edge of his yard to soften, shield and provide privacy from his neighbor's very close house (which was also two story, like the one in your photo). With the trees, he was able to provide privacy for himself from the potential of peering eyes from the second story of his neighbor's home.

This particular tree stays very compact, and as the name suggests, pyramidal. http://www.heavypetal.ca/uploads/archived/Hornbeam.jpg
Under the trees, he has hostas, ferns and brunneria, and, as you can seen, boxwood (wich you would not need).

As the picture demonstrates, you cannot even see the huge house behind the hornbeams. The house if probably within 12 feet of the fence.

Along your rail fance, you could consinder some tall grasses and paired with Rudbeckia and/or Blanket flowers. This would work best if you would remove the Susan Magnolia and also move your gate away from the rail and toward the shed, thereby creating more usuable space along the fence. You probably do not need the privacy during the winter, so the fact that the plants will not provide any then will not matter.

I have a Susan Magnolia, and I love it! But it needs a bigger space than you've allowed for it. Keep it, but move it to another area of your yard. (Maybe along the other side of the yard?)

I hope I've given you something you can use. If not, it has still been fun trying. ;-)

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