Need ideas for Privacy Screen from neighbors - hedgewall???

2 years ago

A tree that provided privacy from our neighbors died and we're looking for ideas on how best to provide privacy from the neighbors. We live in hot Phoenix and I am missing the green that the tree provided, plus it softened the hard look of the blank wall.

We've considered artificial hedge wall - but we'd have to attach it to something and then figure out how to secure it to the ground. Plus, we'd like to be a good neighbor and not have our neighbors have to look at the back side of the hedge wall.

Also considered Orange Jubilee (we have one on the other side of the yard providing privacy), but it would take a couple of years to fill in. This wall faces North and pretty much gets full sun. There is a drip line there though.

Any privacy ideas?

This is how it looked with the old tree.

How it currently looks.

This is the other side of the yard where a Ficus tree, Orange tree and an Orange Jubiliee between them provides privacy.

The neighbors on the other side of our house put up a privacy fence. It's not terrible, but we've planted two Yellow Bells to soften the broad expanse of the wall and provide privacy for the area not covered by the fence.

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Comments (9)

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Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
That wall look s like it is at least almost 6' high so how are the neighbors seeing into your yard at all without jumpong to get a peek. Why not just add a lattice piece to the top of the wall then plant something thta will grow on the lattice and give you lots of privacy. I live where I have neighbours above us up a hill there is no way to keep them from seeing into my yard and pool but honestly they have alife and don't really care what we are doing .
dreamindecor
Original Author
2 years ago
The wall is 5' 5". Their son is well over 6' tall and can easily see in our yard. Don't get me wrong, these people are friends, but I still would feel better having some kind of screen. I guess we could put some low planters on top of the wall and fill them with seasonal annuals.....
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I am using a bunch of different vines to cover fences on 3 sides of my yard in 10b. I snickered to myself as I chose the blue sky vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) to go on the side where the neighbor I don't like is, since it is considered by some to be an invasive monster as well as beautiful. I have Confederate jasmine starter plants, Mandevilla, and sky vine which are growing so fast I am truly beside myself. A sturdy broad trellis for jasmine would make a great screen and no problem to do well in 9b I would think. The sky vine you should research and see if you want to do since I have seen discussions on line to the tune of "DO NOT PLANT THIS IN YOUR GARDEN!" (Clearly I follow the sage advice of others more experienced than myself.) Mandevilla may be too tropical for 9b and does not get as big as the others, but is amazingly fast as a twiner and grower, and soooooo gorgeous. No doubt others have vines to recommend. The only caution is the issue of wind sturdiness and hurricane planning, as we talked about in the post linked below. You could always set up a camera on a tripod with a huge zoom lens and stand in your yard at odd hours pointing it at their house. I bet they will pop up a fast privacy screen for you. Gina Here is a link that might be useful: winds and hurricanes and big garden structures
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Did I understand you right that you have a swimming pool in your yard? What are the county regulations about having a 6-8 ft. fence around that pool? Some counties are very strict about that. Having a wood fence that high would solve your problems. Maybe the neighbors are hoping for an invitation for a dip in your pool. They probably don't mean any harm. Privet hedges grow fast but not overnight, especially in these high temperatures as we've had this summer so far. Have you just had the pool installed? Our county requires a 6-8 ft. fence and it must be kept locked at all times. This protects you as a homeowner as well as wondering children that may accidently drown.
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Not sure how much height you really need, how fast. One thing to consider is that when you plant to the south, you may not get as much shade as you expect during the actual hot months, when the sun is to the north; and you may get more than you want in early spring and late fall, when the sun is to the south and you want your patio to warm up. Trees to the west-northwest are probably best for shading a patio in most of New England. Take a look at heptacodium - it's quite narrow and in fact is adaptable as far as the number of main trunks. A lovely and unusual tree, and because it flowers late, and has long-lasting, colorful calyxes, it looks good for a long time after the flowers fall. The exfoliating bark is interesting, and a well-grown specimen can look good even when the leaves are gone. It can be found relatively inexpensively because it's not especially hard to propagate and grows fairly fast when it's young. If you don't want messy flower fall, I'd stay away from cherry. Of all the cherries, I'd maybe recommend prunus mume, but it's not reliably hardy in your zone as far as I know. Stewartia is a lovely smaller tree, but prefers some shade. In your zone, it might be fine in sun - I have some in full sun that do well, but it's cooler here on the cape in summer, so you might want to check with your arborist or a local nursery. It can be quite pricey for larger specimens, in my opinion, but it's a great tree. S. pseudocamellia is the most common (and, most people think, the most beautiful) but some other varieties are narrower and might be better in your situation. There are some smaller varieties of katsura (cercidiphyllum) - one of the trees on my "must have" list. One, Heronswood Globe, only reaches 15' - not sure if that's tall enough for you. That's one of the most beautiful trees - no flowers, but really great foliage, lovely color and shape.
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i went to franklin also ... class of 77 ... boy i hate going back to the 'city' .... i am amazed .. and dont buy for a minute.. Howell as z6 .. dont waste money on zone pushing z6 plants.. imo ... smargard is famously sold as multi leadered plants at big box ... snow and ice load can cause severe issues.. a decade or two down the line ... such as ... https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Thuja++splay+snow+ice+damage&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images it usually happens a few years after you decide they are just perfect ... lol ... if you can find single leader plants.. pay extra ... which can be offset by going smaller .... you are not far from gee tree farm in stockbridge.. nor arrowhead alpines in fowlerville ... http://www.arrowheadalpines.com/ https://geefarms.com/ both used to be my go to places ... not cheap mind you ... and both worth a day trip ... though for you... its not that far ... besides.. your neighbors wont be there.. lol .... at gee's.. if you ask nice.. they will golfcart you over to the ten acre show garden .... or at your age.. just walk ....its not that far .... both have extensive gardens for touring ... besides the sales area ... but to be honest.. i havent been to either in quite a few years ... i hope they still do .... GG are not going to grow fast in shade .. and they are slower than advertised.. in MI.. considering 4 to 6 months of dormancy.. with frozen ground ... for 3 or 4 months .... ken
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decoenthusiaste
2 years ago
What does your xeriscape nursery advise?
jmm1837
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
What about a triangular shade sail?
mojavemaria
2 years ago
What about another tree? that would give you the screening where you want it and Palo Verdes and mesquites grow quite fast.
dreamindecor
Original Author
2 years ago
After thinking about your comments and looking again at the pictures of how things look now, I've come to the conclusion that it really isn't "privacy" I'm looking for, but I miss all the greenery hiding the neighbor's house.

Here's another pic of how the tree helped screen the neighbor's house, added greenery, depth and texture to the whole area.

We've been in the house 35 years and that tree was probably 30+ years old. I think for now, we'll just plant some Tecoma Stans, they're fast growers, especially in this climate. We got the Sparky color - Maroon and Gold for ASU - our alma mater! If I remember, I'll post pics as they grow to hide the house. If you scroll up, you'll see one on the other side of the yard (between the ficus and the orange tree) that's about 5' higher than the wall.

Next up - figuring out how to SHADE the area, since we lost the shade of the tree - but that will be a different post!

THANKS ALL!
cubby14
2 years ago
I live in the Phoenix area too and I would plant another tree in that spot something like a mesquite or Palo Verde which grow pretty fast and meanwhile plant your Tecoma Stans.
houssaon
2 years ago
Definitely plant a tree or two. Aside from the privacy, you have lost the softness and shade. Good luck!
scout
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
That was a beautiful tree and i see why you miss it. It really gave the space a private courtyard feel. I would plant another tree or two, but I would spend the money for a bigger one. I also live in AZ, and the mesquuite, palo verde and cascalote trees that I planted a couple years ago are still very small. You could call around for best prices on a new tree. Be sure to explain the sitation so they can give you a recommendation. One other thing you could conisder is to install tall planters, maybe 2-3 foot high, and then add your tree or screening foliage to that for more instant height. I just did this with some oleanders. I built large planters out of steel that will rust over time.

Need ideas for Privacy Screen from neighbors - hedgewall???

Comments (9)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

dreamindecor
Original Author

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decoenthusiaste

jmm1837

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Need ideas for Privacy Screen from neighbors - hedgewall???

Comments (9)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

dreamindecorOriginal Author

Related Discussions

decoenthusiaste

jmm1837

mojavemaria

dreamindecorOriginal Author

cubby14

houssaon

scout

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dreamindecor
Original Author

dreamindecor
Original Author