We are going to build a garden fence from wood. I think the traditional fencing for a brick tudor would be metal, but we can't build that:) Since we are clear out in the country, I was thinking a picket fence, but I don't know if there is a clear style that would be best with our style home. Please share any suggestions as far as the fence style you would do to compliment this home. Thank you Nostalgicfarm

We have a similar situation; a medium sized suburban yard with a mish mash of chain link fence. Replacing it with a privacy fence would be very difficult because a long stretch of it goes right through the middle of 40+ year old thicket of honeysuckle bushes with massive trunks and roots. They are great for privacy in the summer, but do almost nothing all winter. Neighbor has three motion lights that shine right in our windows much of the year! On one section with no honeysuckles we got the rolls of 6' reed fencing and tied it the 4' chain link with wires. It held up well for a few years but the wind and animals trying to climb it damaged it a lot. The wire holding it together is thin and starts to rust and break after a few years too. Cutting it back to 4' when it got ratty helped tidy it up a bit, but obviously a lot less privacy. It is a very temporary solution at best. Since your fence is not even on the property line, I concur that getting a new and more private fence pushed back to the line is a better solution. If that doesn't pan out though... the reed fencing is an option. Ideally you would pair the reed fencing with some type of evergreen shrubbery which will help as well. They help with noise too. We have a massive silver maple and previously had several in our yard and next door. Yews would grow under them, slowly at least. Sweet woodruff is a good groundcover for dry shade too, although it is not evergreen. If you do put in any shrubs, plant them far enough away from the fence so they have room to grow. I have seen our one neighbor out with a scissors cutting off just the very tips of our red-twig dogwoods that stick through the fence. People are strange.

To create more privacy between you and your neighbor's house, I would plant a few fast-growing trees. You can ask your local nursery or look online for types of trees that you would enjoy and are best suited for your climate. For the circle area under your crab apple tree, you might consider working with a professional landscape designer. There are many here on Houzz that do amazing work. Here's an example of a gorgeous idea created by Martha Baker Landscape Design. Christi, on behalf of Thos. Baker

We are are on a public path and got invaded with ash borer which totally opened up our yard since all the trees had to be cut. We put up Costco's weed fabric with bamboo rods holding it in place at 3' intervals. Plus we used hot glue to attach to the links. Last year we did Dollarama's weed cloth but it was pretty flimsy and lasted only the one season. I think it looks perfectly fine.