I think it would be okay to do, a better look might be to incorporate some of the wrought iron into the wood privacy fence such as at the posts that way it offers a better presentation some examples:

I think it will look nice.

Hey, you could add privacy screens and a wrought iron fence along the water, as you said. I think it would look nice.

So in the first pic I can see that your neighbors put in an iron fence over by your shed. Are you proposing putting a privacy fence right next to it, parallel to it?

if I was your neighbor, I would be pissed. I would have taken the time to pick the open fence and paid to install it and then it would look terrible with a solid fence right behind it.

Why not not contact them and ask if you can replace the iron fence with a privacy one, and then ask if you can have or buy the iron panels to use down by the water on your property

is this a developing area or its all your property? I don't see the need of a privacy fence . I think that a bit of privacy is needed around pools to feel more relaxed and out of view and frankly those cedar fences really don't look that great, I rather see a well kept hedge or an iron fence with a gate then the wooden ones . Tall iron fences give me the impression of cemeteries I prefer short ones over the tall ones , if you have dogs then you need tall . Do this instead

Representative Project · More Info

The neighbors can be pissed all day long, and it still wouldn't prevent me from doing what I want to my yard. It wouldn't be hurting them or diminishing their quality of life in anyway.

Would the privacy fence block the neighbors' views?

Not that you asked, but that shed is blocking your view. Is it yours? I'd see about moving it if it is. :)

This is mainly a matter of Aesthetic ,you want to please yourself and also please the others , no need to be "pissed off " there is already enough of that going on in the world and good neighbours are hard to find aside from that if things will look good everybody will be happy. It looks like you have lot of space in the yard , get to know your neighbours before putting up a barrier, some even had gates to go and visit .... what happened to the good old days?

There is no need to be pissed off if your neighbors decide to have their home fit their needs. They chose a wrought iron fence, and the OP wants a privacy fence. There is nothing to get pissed about. And what exactly is the "view" that everyone is concerned about? I'm not being a smarta**, I'm honestly curious. I have open fields on 3 sides of me, and I've never really considered it to be much of a "view". Especially during the years they plant corn. (deer and other wildlife are so common around my way that it really no longer holds an interest).

I have no problem with wanting privacy fences. I personally prefer them. But to see two fences running parallel to each other and just a few feet apart would be really weird. Like almost like those spite houses that people build. It essentially broadcasts to the whole neighborhood that you and your neighbor don’t get along enough to coordinate a fence. I’m not saying that is he case in real life, but that is how it would look to others.

im not even sure I’ve ever seen two parallel fences.

Anyway, perhaps your neighbors would prefer privacy and would be happy for you to replace their fence with a solid one. Perhaps they picked the iron one because it was cheaper. And wouldn’t it be great if you could use their iron panels for your water view. Just try talking to them.

If it's to keep unwanted traffic out of your yard, a barberry hedge (thorns!) is a good cheap option.

I think, in your second picture just above, we can see the beaten-down path that people use. And that’s on your yard? If so, I wouldn’t like that either.

I don’t understand how a new fence would link up with your neighbors’, but if you just want to stop traffic across your yard, install a MATCHING fence along your property line.

By the way, when you say PRIVACY fence, do you mean a solid fence that people can’t see through? To me, that’s what a privacy fence means.

Looking at the scenery I honestly think that an iron fence is a bit to severe for this location a gate is fine but that is as far that I personally would go , since this is a pathway then you need proper enclosure and you also need something tall , a row of cedars will not completely block your view of the water and still give your space a softer look .

Perhaps you would like this idea

Tydan Landscape Design, Inc Office · More Info

Cedars don't like wet feet. Something to keep in mind since you're planting in a flood plain.

It might be. That's the spot most exposed to wind though, which is another kind of stress on plants. So I'd do a mixed planting. That way you don't put all your eggs in one basket and have everything die because it doesn't like the site. And it will look better and provide more habitat for interesting birds. And people generally don't walk through garden beds even when the plantings are low. So-- evergreens, shrubs, small trees (like elderberry and flowering cherry) and ornamental grasses for a low maintenance but beautiful property line marker.

Your property reminds me of Essex County, Ontario. And if you're anywhere near there, you'll need something with a fair bit of wind hardiness. It will also need to stand up to Japanese beetles. That's why I recommend a mixed planting. Diversity means that you don't have a giant buffet of some pest's favourite food sitting there waiting to be destroyed.

I would take the money you would spend on fencing and get a solid landscape design. I think a strategic naturalistic planting scheme would achieve your aim and be much more beautiful than a fence.

http://www.gardenersnet.com/tree/cedarshrubs.htm

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/cedar-hedge-care-48572.html

Oh gosh, there are so many more interesting options than a cedar hedge.

will you be cutting off any of your neighbors' views of the pond with the trees?