Spacing seems to be too close together for long term appearance. You might also consider Canadian Hemlock & Yews in the shadier areas.

You may well want to post your photos directly here in a follow up post by using the photo button below the comment box to add directly from your hard drive or phone. Some folks don't like clicking unknown links.

I agree with you both that planting large trees on close centers won't be a good solution. My 25 year old Norway spruce is huge, probably close to 30' wide. Hemlocks are vulnerable to wooly adelgid and would be equally too large as the other suggestions. Mine went from tiny saplings to 20' wide and taller than that in about 15 years. Yews to are a deer favorite, so not a good choice if you have deer in the area. You may find some more columnar cultivars of some of the larger conifers, but they may be pricier, I don't know.

For an instant privacy screen for the patio, you want a fence. It can be nicely planted with shorter shade-loving perennials, and you can plant a reasonably spaced set of conifers on the other side of the fence for eventual screening so that the fence can be removed in time. Taking a shortcut on this will just mean that in 5-10 years' time you will need to replace the evergreens. So either you need to be patient while trees grow, or you will need to replace them in a few years. Additionally, IME in the kind of shade your photos seem to show by the oaks, not much will grow densely enough to provide great screening. Plants will grow, but more slowly and/ or more sparsely than in areas with more sun. You might want to look at broad-leafed evergreens such as some of the more shade tolerant Rhododendrons or Kalmia/mountain laurel, both of which can reach a reasonable size.

My sympathies on the neighbors.

I would suggest using arborvitae placed in a staggered manor, so that the branches overlap rather than grow into one another. You could also place an ornamental tree, such as a star or saucer magnolia between your back patio & the screening plants. I believe you have enough sun for this approach.

Here is an update...

I had two 10' Black Hills Spruce and a 6' Celestial Shadow Dogwood planted on the south side of the house. On the north I had one Black Hills Spruce and a clump of whitespire birch. All of this cost me about $1800, and that maxed my budget out at the time. It is a good start, but I would like to add more next spring. Hopefully not spending another $1800. I need some ideas!

On the south side, I planted about 20' away from the house and spaced the trees about 15' apart, knowing it will take several years to fill in. But I am getting impatient, and thinking about adding something right next to the patio. Some 8' emerald green arborvitae might do the trick. I REALLY want to block out that neighbor.

On the north side, a solid screen isn't that important to me. Those neighbors are not annoying, I just would like to block the street a bit.

At the back of the property line, I would like to add something that just looks natural, to fill in the wooded area a bit. Evergreens are preferable, as in the winter there is barely any cover and I can see the people behind me. These will get very little light, I want to plant them as far back as I can, under the canopy.

ALL IDEAS WELCOME!

Were this me I'd change the strategy a bit in order to get more done with the same $. You are purchasing good sized, fairly expensive plants. But much smaller plants could achieve good growth and size within a very few years. I'm in a totally different area but am from the Midwest originally and know that things can grow fast there, too. I have trees that started out as 1-gallon pots that are now in the 15' ht range in 4-5 years. I have shrubs that started at same size and grew to 5' ht. & spread in 4 years. And a Bougainvillea trained upright on a post that is 13' height x 14' spread in the same amount of time .... from cuttings. I'm sure there are plants that could do as well for you and extend your budget substantially.

Also, I wish you'd do a comprehensive planting plan before you put anything else in the ground. Dealing with spots here and there, over time, especially if not taking into account the ultimate sizes, you might end up being smothered by your own plants in a maze of sorts. I'd especially be looking into some large shrubs/small trees to screen at a distance since your yard is fairly spacious.

Another thing I'd consider is vines on a trellis. Where you are considering screening adjacent to a patio, it seems like a better/cheaper option to me. In some cases I've used a device which I call an extended trellis. It's a series of posts, installed at a spacing like fence posts (every 8' or 10') on which a chain is swagged from each, connecting them. The space below the top chain is filled with some method for guiding vines to grow up to the chain. It could be parallel horizontal wires every 12", stapled from post to post. Or it could be vertical cords that run straight down from chain to stakes in the ground @ 12" intervals. The infill is temporary. If a vine reaches the chain, it can grown on itself & other adjacent vines. In short order, it becomes a solid screen. The overall trellis length can be extended as far as whatever space is available. Annual vines can start things out with quick cover. A permanent perennial vine that will take over for the long term can be installed at the same time. Vines that drape, such as Clematis, are good to use ... not those with woody cantilevering, such as Wisteria.

Evergreen trees offer the advantage of winter screening, but they are harder to manipulate to fit situations as they age. I wouldn't put so much weight on them since you're not likely to be spending much time on the patio and in the back yard during much of the winter. Here's a suggestion of an alternative.

Yaardvark, I think the trellis is a great idea. I think this is what I will do. Can you recommend a good place to buy one? If I'm going to buy one, I want to get a really good one, and it will need to be tall, as the patio sits about 2' high. So probably a 9 footer. Also, I don't have the time or DIY skill to create my own contraption.

I also agree about smaller trees. The only reason I got the big ones is because I wanted some type of instant screening.

I have never seen a good ready-made trellis except for very high priced. Good one's are custom. The type I described is easy but depends on being covered up as it is cheap. But you might find one you like if you search Google.

Peter, fencing companies make and install semi-custom trellises. Choose one that suits the style of your house. You may also find an attractive, useful outbuilding like a tool shed that would block the view and be an even more effective sound barrier. Make sure any of these meet your town's code requirements.

How about a partial fence of some kind, I have seen lots of them done nicely in combination with evergreens like your spruces, something make out of wood or wood/screens... whatever goes better with your patio>>>

You get the idea :)

Roxana, where did you find that last pic?

Couldn't add pic b4 bcuz on phone. But here is "extended trellis" as I tried to describe previously. First pic. is from our side (January.) Second is as seen from neighbor's. Vine is evergreen but froze and lost every leaf. Still screened where thickest on account of thick network of stems.

Yaardvark, your setup would be awesome. I measured and I only need about 10' across, and 8' high. How long would it take something like that to establish?

When I did that trellis, the first year I planted moonflower vine (sewn @ 12" centers) which is an annual. In about 6 weeks it was solid cover ... until the freeze. At the same time I planted it, I also planted cuttings of flame vine that I had rooted (one per 10' trellis section.) During the first winter, there was nothing but dead annuals hanging on the trellis. The flame vine had only grown a few runners and was barely visible. The next year I replanted moonflower vine but there was crop failure. Nematodes discovered them and they were sickly. I ripped them out and replanted with heavenly blue morning glories. They were great looking but a little thin at the bottom. It didn't matter as they were just temporary. I also planted a couple of sections with 'Grandpa Ott' morning glory just to try it out and am still regretting that. The flowers were disappointing but the billion seeds it produced are STILL sprouting 4 years later. During this second summer, the flame vine creeped all over but was lacy and transparent. The third year, I didn't plant any annual vines. The flame vine went crazy growing all over itself and became a solid wall. It was that way until it froze last winter. Some sections have already filled in solid several weeks ago, but a fair percentage of it is still filling in from the frost. It is enough of a screen that you don't feel exposed, but is not solid. I'm not concerned though, as it is a vine that does most of its growing in the latter part of summer, getting ready for the huge show in January. I am expecting it will be 95% recovered by then. It's tends to grow up to the top support, coagulates there first, and then a curtain of hanging foliage grows downward from that point. There are many different growth patterns of vines and they each have their own personality.

The last picture is just from google, it goes to one of those "spammy" websites, if you google "privacy wall screen ideas" it will show ;) Good luck!