I have a great leatherleaf viburnum that retains its leaves most of the winter, has spring flowers, and provides a good screen between my neighbor's yard and mine. It's about 12' tall and I don't think it will get much taller, at least not in my lifetime. Even a large shrub that loses its leaves in fall will give you great privacy when you need it, in summmer, and will obscure the view quite well in winter. Can you spare enough space to make a mixed border with several tall shrubs along that edge of your yard? It's hard to tell from your photo how wide the area is between the wall and the edge of the yard to the right, but I'd suggest rototillingg a swath along that side of the yard and planting whatever you like. The privacy will be taken care of without your having a wall or an oddly placed "specimen tree". Parts of the wooded border across the field look like they really contribute to your view, so leaving some gaps in height, as well as a partly obscured path (towards the right side) through the proposed border might work well for you. >... say "That is lovely landscaping... I really love that grouping of ... I agree with this completely, and I think the best way to get that is with a mixed bed. A single conifer in place of the red cartoon Christmas tree will look a little better than the cartoon, but an actual grouping of plants will look a whole lot better than that.

Thanks Yardvaark! That looks great. I could easily do some crape myrtles for the center. Couple of things: - I can't do that large of a bed on the right. There is a slight ditch in my backyard for water to run through, and that bed would be right in the way and my mulch would be carried away each storm. I could do two trees in one bed, then another small bed for another tree and break it up with some grass in between. - Would it look tacky to have 2 dogwoods in the center with 2-3 crape myrtles for the small flowering trees? Trying to reuse some of my existing plants, but don't have to. - Any examples of tall, skinny trees for the corners? I don't know of any trees that could fit in those areas besides some evergreens (emerald arb, spartan juniper). And I think pine trees would get too large for those areas. I agree with the ground cover, and that was in my plans once I found a design I liked for privacy. Thanks again for the help!

"They [low priced nursery/garden center landscape designers] are used primarily as a marketing tool to sell plants, often very common or less desirable plants, and what you receive design-wise may be very substandard." My sentiments exactly. One would likely get the typical "builder's plan" ... the kind of problem prone landscape that everyone can't wait to redo as soon as possible. The forum is good for giving ideas about general direction to take, or spot problem solving ... but it does not produce PLANS, which are essential for a quality landscape product. One has the option of drawing their own plans if they are DIY oriented and feel competent about it. (They can get advice from the forum on the mechanics of doing it. ) If not, as in every other project, they must hire a professional. But landscaping without plan at all will probably result in something less desirable than a 'builder's plan.' The approach one takes for a back yard depends largely on one's goals and objectives. Some people want total privacy, as in a private paradise ... they don't want to see any part of neighbor's houses. Other people want a more open solution and prefer not to block much view between neighbors' yards. Still others want to block sight lines between theirs and neighbors' outdoor living spaces while keeping a feel of openness at other places. One needs to decide on their goals in order for a plan to shape up that would meet them. In nearly every discussion of creating a privacy border of some type comes the advice to avoid a uniform hedge. I would take this with a grain of salt because often, especially when space is at a premium, it may be the uniform hedge that best fills the bill. Many people here are plant loving "gardeners" and can't conceive of a planting that is not crammed with as much variety as possible. A potential downside to that is more labor in upkeep, more space consumption, and a busier look. If that fills the bill, no problem. But there are advantages to uniformity in potential space conservation, a cleaner look and simpler maintenance. Landscaping is not 'one size fit all.' Develop your goals and set about to see how they can be realized.

The bamboo I've seen in containers generally gets shabby looking. Plants growing directly in the ground are a lot easier to keep happy looking. But n Colorado, I doubt you'll be able to grow a bamboo that makes you happy. While the above picture looks like a vine covered fence, there is no fence. It's a vine growing on a trellis. It's not tall enough for your needs, but the height is whatever you make it to be, based on the height of the posts, which are all freestanding and separate. Posts are installed the same as would be for a fence, about 8' apart. (I have them here at 10' because the sum of factors influencing me demanded it.) At each side of the post tops are large hooks and a chain connects each post to the next. (I wouldn't go any lighter than porch swing chain. No rope will work as it deteriorates.) From the chain, at 12" intervals, I ran twine straight down to the ground and tied it to a stake pounded in the ground. Plant one perennial vine for each section (between posts) of trellis. You have to pick a good drapey vine and I can't certify what would be the best for your climate. (I used Flame Vine, above, but it's for warm climates.) Virginia creeper comes to mind as one that would work, if it grows there and I imagine it does, but it's going to be rambunctious. The same for Boston ivy. (Still, these things are not impossible to control.) It's going to take a couple of years for a perennial vine to get to the point of doing a great job. Meanwhile, also plant annual vines, from seed, at every foot or two of trellis run. They're up and running in no time. It's possible to have complete coverage in a matter of weeks. And annual vines put on some tremendous flowering shows. I'd recommend moonflower vine for first choice and Heavenly Blue morning glory for second. Seeds available on Ebay. (Other morning glories, like 'Grandpa Ott,' can be invasive and never stop reseeding so I'd steer clear of them.) Anyway, this could be a good way around the problem if you play it out right. For the most part, it amounts to tall posts in the ground -- legal -- that have no fencing whatsoever attached to them. How are you supposed to be responsible for it if some gorgeous vines happen to find the posts and climb on them ...?? Of their own accord, vines are climbing on things all across rule laden, civilized America with nobody doing a thing about it! Even if trimmed down, such things are liable to climb right back up. :-) It helps if the posts have pretty tops as they must be looked at for a while. I don't have a picture of it, but every year the above vine goes through a brief period of leaf loss loss right after flowering. But even after the leaves drop, the screening is maintained because the vines themselves have formed a dense network of branching. After it has gotten thick, it looks good, too. It just occurred to me that grapes as a vine type might work out great for you.