Planting evergreen trees/shrubs interspersed in the wooded area will be enough to give you privacy. (Depending on your growing zone flowering shrubs like camellia, tea olive, gardenias, azaleas, rhododendrons, etc will add seasonal interest.) It will just take a while for them to mature. You may have to water them until they are established. A line of evergreens behind the wall will make you feel walled in. You can add a structure in one area to give instant privacy until the shrubs are established. A vine or climbing rose covered porch swinging area in front of the wooded area would look nice.

A pergola covered patio on the lower level would give you instant screening when viewed from above. I too think a mixed shrub planting among the trees is a better choice than a line of evergreens above the wall.

The questions are, where are you and how much property is yours above the wall? Depth in feet is good.

Build the structure having a screening effect over a useful part of the paved area - such as right in front of where you took the picture from, because where you were standing when you took the shot is probably the point from which you are most bothered - and you will have the solved the problem as soon as it is completed. The only immediate drawback being that architectural solutions of course cost thousands to erect if hired out.

FWIW this is a recurring question here, that is somebody trying to screen an unwanted view over near where they are looking to, rather than where they are looking from. With the latter approach being much more effective - think of standing where you are looking from and holding a hand up in front of your face vs. walking over to where the view is and holding a hand up there, trying to make the view disappear.

I completely hear you about the “walled in” possibility. That did occur to me... but the yard is bigger than it might look. It’s probably 35 or possibly 40’ from my back door to that wall. I was thinking that might be ok (we don5 use that dry hill for anything although the dog loves it. Lol). A little more explanation because my picture wasn’t great. For scale, the fence in our back yard is 5’ high. The house behind us is 3 stories visible to us - their basement is at ground level at the back of their house. They have a giant stacked stone wall on the left that creates an outdoor patio on the true first floor of the house-it’s right where the big window/door is. I’m not sure any 10’ tall plant is going to interrupt that line of sight?

Two more pics. I’m standing at my back fence. First is looking towards my house. Easily another 35’ from the wall. Second is looking towards my neighbors house.

Ps camellias, Rhodies and azaleas will definitely grow in my zone although only the rhodies would get big enough to do any good? Ottoluken laurel occurred to me as well...I have some of all of these in my yard already and I do like them. However I dread planting anything on that hill. The roots make it a real challenge- the trees are higher up the hill (we removed several closer to the house to put in that wall). There is also a LOT of rock in that hill. (I think they actually blasted a little while digging the foundation). That being said small pots would be the only way to go here...really small pots!

One final thing you should know-existing patio is going to be revamped in the near future. I picture it come out more towards the wall. Current shape is not functional.

Maybe you can (temporarily) make YOUR yard so hideous that THEY plant a screen on THEIR side.

OK, maybe not. :)

What is your zone and general area?

The kinds of broadleaf evergreens named on this thread require decades to grow large.

I’m zone 6b.

Fori - if only! Lol. Yard was a wreck befor we moved in 10 years ago. Wall to wall deep ivy. Sad thing is they DID do some screening recently...but it was off to the side of their yard so it doesn’t help me.

Screen the patio at the patio and this

I’ll get comments on how much they like my new garden bench (on m6 patio up against the house), for example - when they have never been to my house. I just really want a little privacy rather than feeling like everything we do is on display

goes away.

A couple of large canopy NON deciduous trees strategically located would certainly be the best option with the least cost. Perhaps a nice row of manicured cypress? Agree with Christopher C Nc come in closer to your patio to achieve the most privacy while still being nice neighbors and not absorbing much needed sunlight for their property.

No ideas on how to improve your privacy. Just wanted to say “hi” to a fellow smooth collie person! I currently have a tri boy and a blue merle girl 😀

I am the person whose house is looking down on other houses. Little 10ft shrubs or dinky little trees aren't going to keep me from seeing you. You need something big like pines or green giants planted at the highest part of your yard you can plant. Yes, I can sit in my sunroom and see everything you are doing. A pergola will give you some privacy, but just were the pergola sits. And you better screen the back of it.

Karen w - always nice to meet another owner of a smoothie. They are so hard to find (and nobody knows what they are!)

Ideas using cold hardy Southern Magnolia (St Mary's, etc) & Forest Pansy Redbud& Dogwood.