Now that I grabbed your attention with that title — Imagine.

You have just had your backyard landscaped and it’s been a few months when you start to notice something is missing.  Your landscape design is flawless, but you now began to notice your property is lacking privacy.  Before you had your outdoor oasis created, you didn’t spend as much time outside, enjoying the beauty of your property but now you can’t help but notice your neighbor washing the dishes in her kitchen window, smiling back at you.  Perhaps it is time to call back the professionals and add a living privacy screen to the perimeter of your property.

What do you need to keep in mind as you move forward with another project?  This blog will touch base on the key things that you should be thinking when calling a landscaper and working together to design your natural privacy fence.        

Is your space urban or suburban?

• This is a very important question because if you are located in an urban area the space to work with is going to be limited but not hopeless.  Urban homeowners will need to be a little more creative when designing.  Some quick and easy solutions are vertical gardens, raised planters or arched trellises with climbing vines.  It’s important to note that not all options are instantaneous, and this should be kept in mind when choosing your plants, trees, flowers, etc.

Do you want your property to be formal or informal?

• For those with an abundance of space, the possibilities are endless.  A natural look can consist of a mix of plants arranged in a staggered fashion,” says Debbie Friedman.  “A formal look can be one plant in a row or hedged.”  Privet and boxwoods are common shrubs that are chose for a traditional privacy barrier and are complimented by older homes that are of great stature.  When you chose to do an informal privacy screening an easy option is to add layered plantings that will help to provide texture to the perimeter.  By staggering plants and shrubs, you are breaking the harsh lines and still keeping the seclusion that you are looking for. 

Year-round coverage?

• When planting trees to block your view you need to determine if you are ok with having a clear view in winter or if you are adamant that you want year-round privacy.  The most popular pick of homeowners, the Evergreen.  It is a fast grower and provides constant foliage.  Deciduous trees will provide you with beautiful blooms in the spring and warm foliage in the fall. 

Be prepared.

• The last thing to keep in mind is how large your future privacy shades will grow to.  You will want to make sure that you do not plant things too closely as this will prevent a headache further down the road.  Ensure that your plants will last for a long time but giving them the proper space to grow and mature.  Plants that are required to fight for space and light often end up in your local dump.