Need a privacy solution for awful neighboring views! Please Help
Mick Manson
last year
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tracefloyd
last yearlast modified: last yearOlychick
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Need privacy between neighbors and driveways ZONE 9a
Comments (10)You really only have a few choices: fence or other structure of some type, trellised vines, or extremely narrow shrubs. Something like a tall narrow planter box the length of the drive or a fence with vines combines a couple of the solutions. Who will do the install? If it is DIY, different options require different skills. Different options have different front end costs. All will require some time for maintenance - who will do it, and how much time or money do you want to spend on it? When you say "modern wall" do you mean masonry of some kind or does that include the fencing option? Exactly how wide is the strip that is on your property? Less than 4' or so and shrubs become unlikely as a solution, even with narrow shrubs. If you choose the shrubs or vines, who will do the trimming and cleanup as needed? If it's DH and he likes the fence idea, probably not a great idea since that isn't his choice/what he wanted to spend time doing. Are you willing/able to do the maintenance or hire someone to do it? Will plants require irrigation and what is available there for you? Will the neighbors allow you access to the back of your fence or vines or shrub for maintenance? The fence will require some maintenance over time - is that something one or both of you are willing to do? Have you looked into cost, maintenance, and longevity of different materials over time for your area? For instance, around here I see folks putting up vinyl fences in the hopes that they will be maintenance-free, but over time they grow algae or a branch falls on it and causes damage since they seem relatively fragile in our weather conditions, and in all honesty they look fairly bad in just a few years if not properly maintained. Wood will require renewal of whatever finish you decide to use as well as repair to damage. Would you be content with filling in on your side where the neighbors haven't planted, either with plants or with panels to grow vines? Or do you want the divider to run the entire length of the driveway? Are there regulations in your area as to fence height that would limit its usefulness as far as privacy? Will putting up a more solid fence/wall interfere with air flow? Solutions for landscape situations require a fair amount of information, some thought on your part as to what is realistic for you, and then once a general solution is fixed upon, then aesthetic specifics. So think about the general options available and what seems most reasonable to fit your budget, needs, and skills. Then more specifics can be considered....See Moreneed privacy landscaping help please!
Comments (10)Wow, if that were my property and I had access to the water, I'd definitely be marking it as my own. Does your neighborhood association allow you to plant right down near the water? I'd be tempted to take that bed with the two palms surrounded by hedges right down the side of your house to the water with an interesting mixed planting, native grasses, local waterfront plants, etc. Would be a big project but you could tackle it over a few years. Even just getting a bed laid out and mulched might signal a boundary line that warns people off. I'd also plant some stuff directly outside your pool fence on the side that faces front on with the water. Even some bougainvillea or something on the fence would give you a bit of privacy. And then another bed or planting that runs down the side of your house on the neighbor side to keep folks from coming in from the waterfront on that side. Given the long swathes of grass that seem to be between all the houses and the water, though, I suspect there may be some restrictions about what you're allowed to do....See MoreLooking for landscape solution for window that faces neighbor's window
Comments (27)My choice would be to add a shelf below the window and place containers of plants on it. Position it so the tops of the containers are right at the bottom of the window frame; it will probably be at around the same height as the top of the fence. Similar in idea to a window box but for myself I prefer a shelf and individual containers, as it makes it easier to replant, clean up, etc. and it is more versatile. In autumn the shelf can hold a display of pumpkins and gourds. In winter I use lanterns with LED candles and evergreen boughs, red balls, velvet ribbon. I think your neighbor would love to look out and see a pretty seasonal display! During the spring and summer you can choose drought-friendly annuals to fill the boxes with bright colour. I like begonias. I live in BC Canada where it is very wet in winter but the summers are hot and dry and I am terrible about neglecting my hanging baskets. Begonias are tolerant to over drying; mine are still thriving on the north-west side of my garden shed despite going up to a week between waterings this summer. They don't mind shade either....See Moreplease help cozy up my lake space and hide from crazy neighbor
Comments (10)Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions! HU... I plan on a maple tree on the right and dug the hole for it so that the neighbor had a chance to complain about it before I spend money. We shall see! And I have been looking for furniture. Picky me can’t find what I like! Shivece .... great idea! I had also though about that but the winds off the lake are incredible and not sure a trellis could withstand them 😕 Sarah... the documentation is very long... started out with us having a ladder sitting in the side of our garage.... then over a peony and spiraled from there. We got a survey after the flower incident and he went crazy over that! Strung a line, pained orange markers everywhere.... we are legally allowed to have anything we want. But are kind of afraid 😱 I am thinking about a hedge though. I just worry he will kill them... Garden gal... no legal reason I can’t put up a fence. His issue is he only has about 6 inches past his heat pump to bring things to his backyard without coming on ours. I thought fences make good neighbors but can’t with this one. When the fence guy was here he yelled at us in front of him saying “you are going to regret this you mother f’rs”. And went absolutely berserk for 5 hours... And mind you he is 70 years old. Kitasei .. all true about the other kinda of neighbors. We are a small cove, 11 houses. They all know they are crazy but at least he tolerates them. We are the new people... the other neighbors love us and know what they have been doing and hate the war. One who is a judge even tried to mediate the situation but the neighbor would have no part of a mediation when we were more then willing to try. Rachel.... we looked into that but it would require a permit and variance which he would likely fight with the town 😕 Joseph... thank you! Looking into that. Embothrium... you hit the nail on the head. Anything we do is going to bother him. The cops had been called by others in the past but nothing changed. The neighbor who tried to mediate told him he will be the one who ends up with endless lawyer bills and fines if he doesn’t stop his crap. He hasn’t been violent since last year but the staring, giving the finger to our camera everytime he walks by, driving very fast by the house etc etc... is almost as bad. So that’s the situation.. This house was a 100 year old uninsulated shack when we bought it. We have had a lot of construction going on the past 5 years but only to make it better and will definite increase the property values. Thank you again for all of your response! Have a great Tuesday....See MoreOlychick
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