I'd definitely use shrubs, and for choice of shrubs, the Shrub Forum would be better.

Kudzu?

As a temporary screen until the permanent stuff gets going, sunflowers. or a corn patch.

Will Hop bush (dodonea viscosa) survive in your area? it's evergreen.

Oh my, that is unattractive! For a temporary screen, you might consider rolled bamboo matting. You could attach to the current fence and then addd some taller poles to fasten some higher. That would allow you some time for whatever you plant (hedge or add trellises and vines or even an evergreen tree) to reach screening size. I agree that for specific plant suggestions you can go to your regional forum as well as the shrub forum, tree forum, and vines forum.

To get helpful plant suggestions you will want to give information on your zone and general location. If you want it to post automatically next to your name so you don't have to remember to add it to any posts, here's how:

Go to Your Houzz in the upper right of every page, click Edit Profile, and on the left side click advanced settings. Well down the advanced settings page is a blank labeled Climate Zone for Garden Forums along with a link to find your zone.

You can add the Dallas/Fort Worth info by the zone or your name.

Then return to the top of the page and click Done Editing.

Oleanders are always a good choice they are drought resistant and will bring some color.

I'd really encourage you to reconsider the photinias. They are plagued with a serious leaf blight across much of their suitable planting range that results in defoliation and eventually, death. This is especially true in Texas and other locations in the SE.

Instead, consider these native shrubs that will afford privacy as well as drought tolerance:

Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita)

Garrya ovata ssp. lindheimeri (Lindheimer's silktassel)

Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon)

Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo)

Mahonia trifoliolata (Agarita)

Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain laurel)

This privacy screen was my favorite Christmas present. I'm trying to decide on a vine that would be suitable for it.

Thank you for all the ideas! I'll add my zone to my profile name, and will ask some questions over on the Texas gardening and the shrub board.

I like your privacy screen, MsRed Byrd! I think I may do something like that while I wait for some shrubs to grow.

I love Oleanders, seeds of season. I'm worried about toxicity, and if they'll tolerate wet feet...I'll ask the shrub board.

Thank you, gardengal. I'll re-think the photinias. I have a couple that have always done well, but one of my neighbor's are all dying:/

What about something like this? I can put this right next to the RV port. I think you'll see the back of the RV from certain angles, so will have to wait for shrubs to grow for that to be totally covered.

To update, I got a fence quote today for $1,700 just for this side of the yard....so that's out unless I can convince my husband to help me build a fence.

My plan now is to build the lattice structure for right by the RV, plant crossvine on it, and do an informal mixed hedge along the fence line. I've gotten mixed ideas on my local board about planting large shrubs (10-15 feet tall) vs smaller ones. What do you guys think? I have 25 feet of space from my house to the property line. The RV port is 12' tall. Should I stick to smaller shrubs that won't get really wide? I am not asking for specific shrubs, just more looking for a direction on sizing. I keep wanting to go big, just to hide everything, but I don't want it to to be too much for the space.

Nellie R. Stevens Holly is one of our best evergreen shrubs that would work for privacy. If you don't mind it being bare in the winter then Natchez Crepe Myrtles grow very fast & can easily reach 20 Ft. I am just North of you near Frisco.

Thank you, I will add those to my list! I actually have a little Nellie Stevens in another part of the yard, it's a baby right now so hasn't done much yet...I was thinking one might be good here too, because my other one has been so hardy. I would love to put a CM in, Natchez are my favorite. I think if I put one over where there's already a privacy fence, it will look fine to see twigs in winter...I just want evergreen in front of that awful chain link, lol.

Chain is swagged between hooks at the top of each post so that it creates a continuous run and this is what supports the vine. At 12" intervals, cord is run from the chain down to stakes pounded into the ground. The latter is temporary and gives the vine something to grow on in order to reach the chain at the top. The vine forms its own "lattice" in order to create solid screening. One must pick a vine that "drapes" in order to form a screen that is not too thick. Wisteria, for example, being so woody and rangey, would be out. A Bignonia would probably work well. (Not suggesting it for you, but the Flame vine in the above example is about 2' thick.)

The end posts must be cross-braced, just like a fence.

I am sure too costly but this would be nice as a backdrop for the future plants for screening.

http://www.filtrexx.com/en/livingwalls/home/products/green-living-fence

Ooh, thank you, Yardvaark, I love this idea! I was thinking of doing crossvine anyways, so that would work perfect. I've been looking into building the cedar lattice structure, and this does sound like a simpler build and less materials expense :)

Those green living fences are awesome. I wish those were everywhere instead of the regular wood fencing.

Thank you, Yardvaark, seeing that detail helps! I'm going to start working on this asap. My town just had a planning and zoning committee meeting last night, and the main discussion was putting more regulation on fences, sheds etc. I'll be annoyed if this RV port gets grandfathered in, but my vine thing doesn't haha. I honestly think this RV port is one of the reasons they've decided to tighten regulation.

"I'll be annoyed if this RV port gets grandfathered in, but my vine thing doesn't haha."

That would suck! To help, don't install too close to property line. The vine will have thickness so set back at least about 18" from line.

I feel like I'm trying to skirt the ordinances many times. I think it helps if one always tries to make something attractive and purposeful, and then meddling neighbors aren't as likely to go off whining and crying to the city about something that looks or seems weird. For example, if i was going to put a line of 10' (above grade) posts near the PL, I might paint them attractively and put a bird house at the top of each ... like a finial. Or something like that. Once vines cover things, everyone forgets about what they can't see.

In general solid fence behind with planting in front is optimal. And where codes limit solid fence height often you may be allowed to go higher with something like an arbor on top. But, yes, when you hire fence design and installation out any serious distance at all soon runs to thousands.

Yes, I agree a solid fence as a backdrop would be best. I'm sure we will have one at some point.

True, once the vines have covered I don't think anyone will care. How far apart do you space the Flame vine when planting, Yardvaark? The Flame vine works so nice for this. My only concern is that the crossvine won't provide such nice coverage.

Crossvine is a really good choice for your area! It is dense and evergreen!

Thank you, PKponder! That's encouraging :)

I don't know how far north flame vine will go but i don't think it likes to freeze. I planted every 10'. That is the size of the "panels." I would think crossvine would be great.

Definitely the Flame wouldn't survive our winters, unfortunately. Ok, good to know! I am thinking of spacing the panels 6 feet apart which I think should work for the crossvine spacing too.

The spacing is arbitrary, dependent on the time one is willing to wait for the vine to fill in. 6' would be fine. The other factor is the look of the swag, if one uses the chain method. 6' would be about the shortest span I'd want.

Good to keep in mind. I re-measured today, and think I could even do two 7' sections.

My husband likes the chain idea but is still bringing up doing lattice, so there will be something to look at while the vine grows...and just in case the vine dies etc. Obviously would have to do 4' sections then.

Any thoughts on lattice, Yardvaark? It was my original plan, but I like your chain idea so much I changed my mind. His concerns are weighing on me now though.

Usually, ready-made lattice looks super cheap and tacky. There are exceptions which usually require some sort of heavy framework & tasteful decorate details. Beefier custom lattice -- also with good details -- has the potential to look much better.

It would be very unlikely for vines to just die unless they are being given NO care at all or being treated badly. If one vine in a section dies, then adjacent vines can move in quickly to cover the bare spot.

I didn't mention, but since a perennial vine can take a little time to cover solid, annual vines are useful in the meanwhile to provide quick (6 weeks) solid cover. I have had great luck with moonflower vine on this count. Heavenly Blue Morning glories can be used and look great but they tend to hang toward the top and leave the bottom bare. Don't use any temporary vine that reseeds itself. 'Grandpa Ott' morning glory is like this and is the weediest damn thing ... still sprouting 4 years after the original was killed.

Great idea on the annual vines, never thought of that. That has been my concern with the lattice. I think it can look very nice in certain spaces, but I'm weary of something that looks very diy since we're already dealing with some pretty unsightly things. I wouldn't want it to look worse! I will share this with my husband. Thanks so much.

Here's a picture from the first year when the same trellis had moonflower vine on it ... showing it face on and an end view. (The flame vine is thicker than this.) The flame vine rooted cuttings are planted, too, but there is not yet anything to see. It definitely followed the 'sleep-creep-leap' schedule. The added drawing shows the bracing scheme, which would be concealed.

Most people have no place to grow annual vines as they are quick and rampant. I think they are really fun with so many different gorgeous flowers and fruits that most people don't get to see. Wild, weird gourds for example.

Nice!! I showed this to my husband. We have some other yard things to work on this weekend, and I'd love to get started on this too...we'll see what all we can get done.