Privacy is one of our fundamental rights; everyone just wants to have their time without prying eyes. The importance of having your private space cannot be overemphasized, especially within your home. Let’s be honest; you can’t enjoy time alone or with your family outside on your lawn if you are always thinking about who’s watching. However, you can’t also opt to build four large walls around your property. That’s a bit much, right? Using one for the other is a pretty sweet deal if you enjoy nature as much as you enjoy your privacy. Privacy with plants is an excellent way to keep your family away from roaming eyes and add scenic beauty to your property and the view of the neighborhood. There are various ways to use plants for privacy, and we will run you through a few. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Trees
Using trees for privacy is an old but gold idea. You can ensure better privacy by pleaching your trees. Strange word, I know. Pleaching involves weaving the branches of your tree together to form a thicker unit, keeping your home away from snoopers. There are many trees you can choose from; you can try Tilia. They are deciduous, so it will be easy to pleach during the winter. A little bonus for you; their leaves and fruit are edible, and their flower can be used as herbal tea. For a little more color, you can try the flowering dogwood tree.
Evergreen Shrubs
Want privacy plants that won’t miss a spot where the tree trunks are? You can try evergreen shrubs. These plants grow faster than your average tree and will not shed their leaves in the winter. The Dwarf English Laurel is an excellent option for you. It grows about 8 feet tall and spreads to about 10 feet (that’s a lot of coverage). They also have a vibrant green color that you’ll never get tired of seeing. You can always get them or other evergreens at your local nursery. Another popular shrub you can try is Arborvitae. They grow tall and cover a lot of ground, so you can plant a few of them side by side to form a hedge. They remain beautiful all season so you won’t have any problems with privacy in the winter.
Bamboos
Aren’t bamboos just wonderful? They have a unique look that brings out a subtle closeness to nature anywhere they grow and can be eye candy for most. They grow fast and spread out quickly, so you’re covered in terms of privacy. However, they may spread out of control if planted in the ground, so you should plant them in pots. You can opt for the clumping outdoor bamboo if you don’t want to use a pot (they don’t spread out as much), be bold, just plant on the ground, and get the most fulfilling privacy screen ever. The latter will require a lot of maintenance, just so you know.
Ornamental Grasses
Planting ornamental grasses is a great option for providing much-needed privacy while adding a picturesque quality to your property. There are so many plants you can use! You can try the pampas grass (look out for the Cortaderia selloana variety), which grows to about 10 feet and spreads quickly. Wait till its silver-white plumes come out and enjoy the color variation it adds to your garden. Make sure you shear the grass from time to time, so it doesn’t grow out of control. Other great options include zebra grass, fountain grass, pink muhly grass, and feather reed grass.
Flowering Plants for Privacy
This is one of the more attractive options, adding color and depth to your garden. You can turn your see-through fence into a living wall, blocking off wandering eyes and adding a lush feel to your garden. You can use one plant species or be more adventurous and add a lot. Your local nursery will give you the details on how to apply this idea. Some beautiful plants you can use for your living wall include bacopa, petunia, salvia, fuchsia, campanula, lobelia, viola, wallflowers, and Ajuga, to mention a few. If you want plants that cover up your walls, add beauty to your property, and are edible, try some lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries.
Conclusion
There are many greens out there that can serve as privacy plants for you. Cover up your house with as many as you like, but make sure you can control their growth since they may spread out of place. You can always grab a shear and start trimming occasionally or have a gardener do it for you. Remember, maintenance is the best way to keep your private plants beautiful all the time while they do their best to keep your neighbors from snooping.
