11 Landscaping Ideas To Block Your Neighbours

landscaping ideas block neighbours

If you are having privacy issues in your backyard, there are many ways you can approach the problem.From my landscape design experience, plus some additional research, I've found11 different methodsyou can use toblock your neighbours from view.

We'll consider differentmaterials,layouts,combinationsof these, andprice points.Then I'll provide a little summary table suggesting what kinds of spaces/ yards this method issuitable for, and aprice range(such as low $100's – high $1000's).

Below is a list of the different methods/ approaches.You'll see my descriptions are a little different than other sites.

Click the link to go directly to that section.

  1. Use Hedges Or Screening Plants To Partially Or Fully Block Neighbours
  2. Trellises/ Lattices To Block Neighbours – With Or Without Plants
  3. Raise The Garden Bed And Halve Your Potential Growing Time
  4. Layering Your Garden With Plants To Add Bulk To Block Neighbours
  5. Layering Your Garden With Trees To Spread Vertical Elements Across Your Yard
  6. Block A Specific View Into Your Yard – Or A Specific Part Of Your Yard
  7. Use Man-Made Components Like Walls, Screens Or Poles
  8. Use Blocking Screens For Temporary Privacy
  9. Look At Layering Your Garden/Screening Over Time
  10. Design Private Areas Out Of View Behind Buildings
  11. Lower Your Private Spaces Below Ground Level

Before we get started, I want to outline three important points to think about BEFORE you decide on the best method for your situation.

What, Where & When

When it comes to hiding or blocking neighbours, you need to think aboutwhat you want to block.Is it a specific thing inyourbackyard?Or block a view fromtheirside (like their windows or other overlooking spaces)?

You also need to determinewhere you will do the blocking– along yourproperty boundary, at your specific‘exposed' area, orin between.

Lastly, you want to put a little bit of thought into‘when' you want to blocka view –always, or only fortemporary thingslike entertaining?

This is what professional landscape architects and designers considerbeforelooking for solutions.So you allocate resources effectively, and put more money towards the things that matter.

You can use one or a collection of the methods we'll explore below.For some methods, the examples may require a bit of imagination to apply to your situation, but most should be simple enough to understand.

Let's start by exploring the ‘what', ‘where'and ‘when'to block elements I touched on above.

Consider What You Want To Block

This is straightforward.Are you trying to block your neighbours from viewing yourwhole yard or space?Or are you more concerned with aspecific view looking into your site– an overlooking window, or outdoor space perhaps?

Perhaps there isn't a specific view looking in, but you want to create more privacy around aspecific area in your yard– like an entertaining area or relaxing space.

areas for privacy
Determining which area you actually want to make private can have a big impact on how much it can cost.Carefully placed blocking components like trees are cheaper, and perhaps faster, than a full row of screening plants along a boundary.

Defining thewhatcan help you narrow your focus.So you don't go over the top and plant a giant hedge, when all you need is a little screen.

Consider Where You Want To Place Your Blocking Components

So if you know what you're trying to hide/ block from view, you can considerwhereyou place your ‘blocking components'.Blocking components are thephysical thingsthat will do the blocking.

Obviously we have natural options –bushes, trees, screening plants, hedges, climbersand more.

We can also use manmade things likefences, screens, lattices/ trellises or poles – perhaps recycled versions of these as well.

And, of course, we can usecombinations of these things.

Now when I say ‘where' I meanwhere on your site/ property will you place these things?Realistically this can be seen as a ‘spectrum' – starting at the specific area you want to make private, running through the yard all the way to the property boundary.

A common scenario, where a neighbours window and outdoor area overlook our yard.The space we want to make private is near the house.We could have blocking components around that space, or at the property boundary, or in between – across the yard.

This all depends on your ‘what' from above.If you want the whole yard to be more private, you'll focus on your property boundary.But, if you have a specific area you want to hide from neighbours, it may save you money and time to focus on placing blocking components immediately around it.

Consider When You Want To Use The Space/s And How Private They Need To Be

This refers to if you only care about privacy fortemporary things, or if you want to block neighbours from viewall the time.

Again, just like considering where you place your blocking components, thinking aboutwhen youactuallywant privacymay save you time and money.

If 80% of the time you're ok being ‘exposed' in this space, then you don't want to go over the top and spend $1000's when you could spend $100's.

It may be you want privacy whilerelaxing outside, or only whileentertaining.While the space isn't in use, you're OK with it being ‘open'.

The fix here might be looking atmobile thingslike screens, curtains or mobile garden beds.We'll look at these methods in more detail below, but you get the idea here.

Think aboutwhen you use the space/sandhow privatethings need to be.

Lastly, Consider Your Neighbours

It sounds weird to say consider your neighbours when you're trying to block them or hide from them, but it pays tothink about what they're seeing– once your plan is in place.

If you put up something solid – a wall, fence etc.– think about what that will look like from behind.

Will it bedrab, uglyoruntidy?

What could you try to do to ensure they aren't looking out onto a blank wall from their kitchen window?

If you choose to plant something, will it become astraggly, messy wallthey then have to deal with from their side?

Is there something you could do (or attempt to do) to make sure you can properly maintain it – to keep it clean and respectable?

Just a little consideration can go along way, and prevent tensions from forming, or escalating, down the track.If someone were to try and block you from view, you'd like them to take your view into consideration, wouldn't you?

Let's have a look now at some of the methods you can explore.We'll start with some standard approaches – using plants to block your neighbours from view.

1.Use Hedges Or Screening Plants To Partially Or Fully Block Neighbours

This works well ifspace is at a premium.There are bound to be plants suitable for your climate and conditions that grow quickly, densely and either partially or completely block neighbours from view.

For example, plenty of courtyards or small spaces work well with plants likeBambusa textilis ‘Gracilis'which grows quickly and with dense foliage.

Once you determine thewhere, and have some site analysis information about that specific position, you can take it to an expert like a horticulturalist.They should be able to suggest a few options that fit the bill for you.

You're also likely to find something that suits your aesthetic or style.Just keep in mind, if you opt for somethingdeciduous, you'll find your privacy quickly disappears in autumn and winter.

a solid hedge that completely blocks views
Hedges can take a little work to maintain, but are excellent at completely blocking out neighbours.And they make a softer backdrop that manmade materials.
Photo by Philippe Leoneon Unsplash.
neat trimmed hedges along a path
Here you can see how some neat, trimmed hedges can sit at multiple heights, adequately separating different spaces.
Image from Piqsels.

Obviously these work well alongproperty boundaries, but you can also place them around thespecific area you want to seclude.Or even the‘in between' spacesthroughout your yard – if you have space.

Be aware that things like hedges, and some screening plants, can grow quite tall and require a reasonable amount ofmaintenance.Yearly pruning to keep clean, bushy and control their height may be something beyond your interest, or ability.

And don't forget to think about how you'd prune and maintain hedges or screening plants on yourneighbours side(if it could impact them).

Suitable For: Price Range:
Balconies
Courtyards
Small Gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks
Large Gardens *
Low $100's – $1000's
Unlikely to get into $10000's

* Around specific areas, probably not property boundary

2. Trellises/ Lattices To Block Neighbours – With Or Without Plants

These are moreheavy dutythan usingjustplants.I use the terms trellis and lattice interchangeably, because what we're talking about isa grid or crisscross of a materiallike timber, metal, wire or string.

They can help separate space – acting as their own ‘fence'.Or sitabove existing things like fences, to increase the height of the barrier.

example of a beautiful lattice framework with climbing plants
A large trellis wall with additional arch trellis above.Useful to provide partial screening if left bare, or close to full screening if you use climbing plants.
Photo by Bailey Gulloon Unsplash.

Trellises are often used as a support forclimbing plants, which act toreallyblock out neighbours.Given they tend to be somewhat permeable on their own, having something grow and cover them makes sense.

Another option could beespaliered trees– a bit more of a formal look, and may require some good maintenance and pruning, but can be a bit more structured than a climbing plant.

espalier lime trees
Good example of espalier trees acting as a light barrier.These can be trained in front of and onto a trellis instead of climbing plants for a more formal look.Image taken by Oliver Dixon.

All that said, sometimes something semi-permeable may be just what you need, so a lattice/trellis set upwithoutplants could be enough.Once again, consider how it would look and impact your neighbours.

Suitable For: Price Range:
Courtyards
Small Gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks
Large Gardens *
Large Properties *
High $100's – High $1000's
Depends on how much you need to cover, and if it requires footings

* Around specific areas, probably not property boundary

3.Raise The Garden Bed And Halve Your Potential Growing Time

Rather than plant something at ground level and wait 5 years for it to block neighbours, you canraise the ground leveland potentially halve that time.

You can look to plant things you normally would – things likehedges, screening plants, trees, grasses, andshrubs– and quickly get them to an ‘effective' height.

Having them raised also makes themeasier to care for.This is especially useful if you have mobility issues, or can't move as well as you used to.

Raised Garden Beds

basic example of a raised garden bed
An example of simple raised garden beds.Something you could place next to a boundary (or elsewhere in the garden) and fill with useful screening plants or small trees.
Photo by Anne Burgess.
nice collection of plants in a raised bed
Although low, this is a nice example of how some layering of different plants can build some massin a garden bed.Place this strategically near your main spaces, throughout your garden, or along your boundary.
Image by Armcon Precast at flickr.

Raising your ground level could be as simple as a straight, builtgarden bedthat you line, fill and plant with whatever you want.Screening plants would work quite well, or a collection of varying plants you could ‘layer' – like above.

Pot/ Container Plants

plants in pots/ containers
A collection of large pots/ containers with some suitable plants can make an excellent barrier.Massing multiple containers together can add some weight as well.

If building a full raised bed is too expensive or challenging, you can opt forpotsorcontainersto achieve the same effect.These can also be mobile – something we'll explore more later on – or stationary.

Just ensure you allow suitable drainage, and a place beneath the pots for water to drain or flow away.You don't want your pots to slowly sink into damp or wet ground.

Landscape ‘Berms'

not quite a berm, but an example of a raised mound of earth you can plant directly into
Not exactly a berm, but gives the same idea.A mound or hill of soil that you plant directly into.Image by Ashley Dace.

A third alternative is a‘berm'– a mound of earth that you plant things into.

This can be a cheaper version of a raised bed, but with a less defined shape.You then just plant whatever you want along the top and sides.

These probably work better on larger properties where you have space to spread out.

Benefits Of Raising Garden Beds

Another benefit of a raised garden bed, pots or containers, is you can line the inside with awaterproof membraneand/orweed mat.

This prevents leakages, and particularly invasive plants – like bamboo – from spreading to places you don't want them to.

Not just other parts of your garden, but perhaps your neighbours too – especially if the bed is along your property boundary.

Not only can you restrict where plants grow,restricting the size of the root zone can also reduce the size of the plant.This can be useful to ensure trees don't grow larger than you'd like.Or larger than you can manage.

If you do think a raised bed or container will suit your needs, be aware that building and installing these requires consideration and care to ensure you haveadequate drainage and irrigation.

Do your research to ensure you find suitable materials and plant options for your location and requirements.Asking local builders, landscapers or horticulturalists is a good start.

Raised Garden Beds/ Containers Suitable For: Price Range:
Balconies
Courtyards
Small Gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks *
Large Gardens *
Large Properties *
Low $100's – Low $1000's
Raised Beds can be expensive to build to unique sizes, but are available in set sizes of varying materials
Landscape Berms Suitable For: Price Range:
Large Gardens
Large Properties
High $100's – High $1000's
If you need to order soil, along with machinery to move it, that will be an expensive, per day cost

* Around specific areas, probably not property boundary

4. Layering Your Garden With Plants To Add Bulk To Block Neighbours

I'm going to expand this idea to be a little broader than you might expect.We considered the ‘where' you place your plants in the beginning, so let's explore this idea of layering across various distances.

At Your Property Boundary

Let's start at theproperty boundary– probably the most common place people will look to place plantings like we explored in one and two.

When we talk about layering plants, we generally need awiderspacethan what's required for a simple hedge or screening plants.

nice example of layers of plants in a garden bed
You can imagine the rear planting bed running along a boundary or fence line.It adds great depth to a garden, and can easily front a few screening plants, hedges or carefully positioned trees to block specific views.
Photo by Creative Vixfrom Pexels.

The aim is to plant something that will reach a certainheight– enough to provide privacy – and plant anundercarriage beneath it.

You can even finish off the bed with groundcovers extending out from the front row of plants – giving you multiple layers of differentcolours,shapesand maybeflowering periods.

Depending on your preferred style or aesthetic, you can opt for simple straight lines of the same plants, or a more natural, "mixed" bed of different things.

For the former, you are probably relying on each plant being healthy and well maintained.It can really ruin the look if you find a ‘dead spot' – where some plants struggle to grow – breaking your continuous line.

example of a very formal layering of plants, trimmed to straight lines
A bit of an extreme version, applying straight lines to everything.Consider how one or two ‘dead spots' would have a big impact on the overall look.
Image from Hoommy.com.

This suits a moremodernorcontemporary style, and if you choose suitable plants you can develop a nice layering of plants in quite a small space.Remember though – contemporary plantings may require more work to maintain in a ‘refined' manner.

If instead you want to go for a larger, more natural look (like the image above), try to plant in a moremosaic pattern.Don't have long continuous lines of plants.

example of a feature tree with layering of plants beneath it
A feature tree with some lovely layering of different plantings beneath it.
Image by May Guo at Pixels.

When you do plant multiples of the same plant together, plant insmaller groupsand make sure they areodd numbers.Tessellate them – such as starting with two next to each other, then plant another in front and behind, between the first two.This ‘massing' tends to look more natural.

Regardless of your style, having groundcovers, low and medium levels beneath your main ‘blocking' plantings will add some lovely depth to your garden.Layering plants generallysoftens the spaceand alsoreduces noise.

Spread Layers Out Across Your Garden/ Landscape/ Yard

Instead of placing all your layers (what I'll call the ‘ensemble') at your property boundary, you could look todot your respective layers throughout your landscape.

This is particularly effective if you have a specific point you may be viewing from – like your entertaining area, or a room in your house.

You would approach this a little differently than layering along your perimeter.The main thing to remember is that these now become3D objects.

Now you care more about the side you can't immediately see, because you will see it from another part of your yard.

If you have space, you could place the different layers of plants throughout the backyard.

You can choose to break up the ensemble intoseparate layers, and place each layer atdifferent locations.So you have your ground or lowest layer closer to you, and then dot the other layers at different points leading back towards your boundary.

Also, you don't need to have long lines of each layer if you don't want to.You could break up a layer into multiple lines and place those at different points if you want.

Aerial/ Plan view of breaking up layers into multiple lines across the backyard.

Another tweak is to keep the ensemble together, but break the whole thing apart into different clumps.

A rough sketch of dotting multiple groves around the backyard.

So have your ground, lower and middle layers – along with the canopy – together, but havemultiple little ‘groves' of them dotted throughout the yard.

It can achieve the same effect as breaking up your layers, but gives you more flexibility to place things in varying positions.And size each ‘grove' differently if you need to.

Aerial/ Plan view of groves dotted across the yard, with groundcovers spreading out from each one – to add a bit of dynamism to each area.

So you can see this concept of layering goes beyond just lines of plants along your fence.Let's look at another way you can layer things, but with a slightly different focus.

Suitable For: Price Range:
1/4 Acre Blocks
Large Gardens
Large Properties
High $100's – $10000's
Depending on plant size/maturity, number of plant layers and where you want to place your plants

5.Layering Your Garden With Trees To Spread Vertical Elements Across Your Yard

Similar to the example above, you can think about blocking neighbours from view using vertical elements liketrees.

Although these are probably the easiest to place and work with, you could try to add other potentially tall things we've touched on liketrellises, grassesorraised garden beds.

All of these will, with varying degrees of success, block or obscure a view.

A large garden with mature trees providing extensive coverage and privacy.
Image by Wonderlane at flickr.
If you wanted to block neighbours using trees, placing them in specific positions provides a staggered screen effect that could block out most, if not all, of the view.

I think the main difference between this and point four is you don't need to focus on the layering the undercarriage as much.You choose, and rely on, thevertical elementsto do the blocking job.

This probably better suits smaller backyards or courtyards.Yards without much room horizontally, but can spread out a bit more vertically.

Additionally, having a few vertical elements popping up within the space will add a bit ofdepthto it.

This works well withthinner componentsnarrow treeslike silver birch, or, as we'll touch on later, things likeupright poles.

Suitable For: Price Range:
Courtyards
Small Gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks
Large Gardens ^
Large Properties ^
High $100's – $1000's
Could go higher, depends on number of trees and size
More likely to be cheaper than layering plants

^ Trees can work on larger scales, but may rely on larger spreading, slower growing trees to fill out spaceeffectively

6.Block A Specific View Into Your Yard – Or A Specific Part Of Your Yard

We've seen a few approaches to making a space more private.This point harks back to my original question at the start.

Do you need to blockeverything along your fence line, or are there just afew spots that bother you?

If you do have a few key spots that overlook or impose upon your privacy, you can deal with these far more cheaply byplanting a few well placed trees.

Again, you can determinewhereexactly you place those trees.

Are theyright next to the space you want to enclose?Orcarefully dotted throughout your yard?Or right up near yourproperty boundary?

placing trees to block specific views
Instead of placing trees or screening plants all the way across a boundary/ fence, you can save money and time by selectively placing trees to block out a large percentage of views.So instead of buying many small plants, you can buy a few larger, more mature trees.This means they grow faster, providing privacy sooner.

Targeting a specific area will most likely result in a cheaper, and potentially faster, outcome.You can put your money towards more mature trees, so they block your neighbours sooner.

And you can refine your choices even further by trying to determine howwideandtallyou would need your tree/s or plant/s to be.

This may depend onwhereyou position itto block views.Or perhaps you position it based on thegrowing habitsandmature size.

One thing to note is living components like plants requirepruningand other maintenance to ensure you get nice thick growth, rather than a straggly, leggy crown.

The denser you can make the tree, the better it will block your neighbours view.

Suitable For: Price Range:
Small Gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks
Larger Gardens
Large Properties
High $100's – High $1000's
Depends again on number and maturity of trees
Probably cheaper than Layering Plants or Trees (4.& 5.above)

7.Use Man-Made Components Like Walls, Screens Or Poles

So far I've outlined a few ‘layouts' focusing on plants.But there is no reason similar layouts wouldn't work withman-made components.

We've touched ontrellises/ latticesabove, but I included those in the ‘planting' section because often their main function is tosupport plant growth.

Again, think about ‘where' you would like to place blocking elements like these.

Would they be along the fence line, dotted throughout the garden, or right up next to the entertaining/ relaxing space?

Same questions, same decisions, but using a different material palette.

A positive to all three options is that you can design them tocoverexactlywhat you need covered.No waiting years, hoping nothing goes wrong, to finally block your neighbours from view.

Let's look at a few of the other positives and negatives that come with using some of these components.

Walls / Fences

Walls / Fences are much moreheavy dutythan plantings, requiringfootingsandmore involved construction.

And they sometimes require building permits.They are more constrained by regulations, which means they will be moreexpensive.

But, if they are a solid material like stone or brick, they are likely to last longer, and are better atreducing windandsound.

espalier tree i nfront of brick wall
Brick walls are expensive, but can make lovely additions to gardens.Rather than leave it bare, the owners are attempting to espalier some trees in front of sections of it.
stone wall
A very old example of a dry stone wall enveloping a courtyard.Very time consuming and expensive to build.But there are ways to create a similar look much faster and cheaper – using cladding that has a stone wall appearance.

Screens

Screensare cheaper and can be very effective if you are more concerned with visually blocking something.

You can use a variety of materials – timber, metal, Perspex among others – and set up whatever privacy you need fairly cheaply.Some screens may needfootings, which will add costs and labour, but are generally still cheaper than full constructed walls.

Just be careful you don't place a screen where it may catch strong winds and become a hazard during storms.

Some metal screens with a lasercut pattern.They don't provide full privacy, but perhaps enough for this owners needs.
Bubble Screens – image by Michael Coghlan at flickr.
Like trees or screening plants, you can layer screens along a boundary, to provide a ‘lighter' boundary layer than a solid wall.

Upright Poles

Fence of upright timber sleepers.Here it acts as a singular, semi-permeable screen, but you could space them out into different parts of the yard – like the layering idea below.
By Kuit Landscapes.

I mentionedupright polespreviously.They could be a nice option to use strategically as upright elements, tobreak up direct lines of sight.Another option might be to use uprightsin place of a full fence.

Spacing them provides apartial screen.Having two rows side by side – placed in each others gaps – can approximate afencewhile allowing some light, breezes and sounds to pass through.

Screens and poles, in particular, provide a lot oflayout flexibility.You can aim for the same layouts I outlined above, just using these materials.

Have layers, rather than a solid flat wall.Dot them throughout your landscape rather than against the boundary.Wrap them around, or nearby, the area you want to enclose.

Once again, the designing doesn't change, just the materials.

Dotting screens throughtout the yard.
Or layer poles in patterns, partially blocking neighbours with those upright vertical components.
Walls/ Fences Suitable For: Price Range:
Small Gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks
Large Gardens *
Large Properties *
Low $1000's – Low $10000's
Permits, builders, footings etc.add up to expensive options
Timber clad fence is probably cheapest
Screens & Upright Poles
Suitable For:
Price Range:
Balconies
Courtyards
Small Gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks
Large Gardens *°
Large Properties *°
Low $100's – Low $1000's
Cheaper than walls/ fences even with footings
Screens can cover more space per $ than a fence/wall can

*Around specific areas, probably not property boundary
°Could be anyway from private area to property boundary

8.Use Blocking Screens For Temporary Privacy

I mentioned this right at the top – do you need to maintain a private space, or block neighbours,allthe time?Or is it more forspecific events, like entertaining family and friends.Or perhapsreading/ relaxingin your backyard?

There are many ways to make a space temporarily private.

Curtains

One is to build a frame and hangcurtains.

These can be pulled away for most of the time, and then pulled closed when you'd like more privacy.

If you don't want a frame, maybe a single line strung up across a space will be strong enough to uphold a few curtains.

Standalone outdor curtains, setup on a frame.By thriftyandchic.com.

Portable Screens

If having a whole frame set up is too much, you can have some simpleportable screensnearby that you pull out and set up when needed.

A foldable room divider or dressing screen may be enough.You can get creative finding different things that are quick to set up and pull down.

A portable trellis/lattice screen could be enough to provide temporary privacy to different areas.Built by Gary J Wood.Image by Gary J Wood at flickr.

For something a little more robust, perhaps you have footings or sockets prebuilt, ready to go if you want to make your screen a bit more of atemporary wall.

When needed, you take up the uprights, slot them in place, and place your walls between.This is a little more technical and involved, but could be perfect for entertaining.

Mobile Garden Beds

Instead of screens or walls, what if you went formobile garden beds?

I mentioned with containers, all you need is some wheels and smooth ground, and you can easily manoeuvre a few into place – provided they aren't too heavy, of course.

mobile trellis
Example of a mobile trellis that could separate spaces.Would require some weight at the base to prevent tipping, which would add to overall weight, but does look very interesting.Concept designed by Antoine desjardins.

I think you can come up with a number of different, temporary options to provide some privacy when you want to use a specific space.

The one's I've outlined here focus more on blocking neighbours at or aroundthe area you want to seclude, rather thanboundaries, so that is something to keep in mind.

A whole ring of curtains around your property may be a little difficult to manage…

Suitable For: Price Range:
Balconies
Courtyards
Small gardens
1/4 Acre Blocks
Large Gardens *
Low $100's – High $100's
Maybe more for mobile containers

*Around specific areas, probably not property boundary

9.Look At Layering Your Garden/ScreeningOver Time

We've looked at a few ways to layer plantings throughout a backyard already.Let's extend this idea, but doing it overtimerather than acrossphysical space.

This idea revolves around the varyinglife expectanciesof different plants.

You may have a particular plant you would love as a boundary screening plant.

Or a particular tree or trees that will block a particular view.

The problem is they takeyearsto grow to any kind of effective height or size.

One way to incorporate them into your design is to plant them in the necessary positions, but haveother components next to themto do the blocking work until they reach amature size.

After a few years, you remove the blocking option, leaving your preferred ‘slow growers' to provide privacy.Think of this approach as a‘succession plan'.

Blocking / Protecting Options

One option is to use things likescreens.If you plant along a boundary, place your screens next to the boundary, with your slow growing plants a touch inside it.

Or, if you want something natural, you could use afaster growing screening plant, treesorhedge.If you go with plants, you want something that willlive fastanddie young.

Some flowering native plants such asWattlesin Australia have life expectancies of a decade or so, making them useful ‘protector' plants.

So they won't justblock neighbourswhile you wait – they can alsoprotectthe slower plants from strong winds or storms.

Now this approach requires theremovalof either option.Or in the screening plants case, you could let it grow old and eventually decay, but that may be messy.

Because you aim to remove the first wave of screens/plants you need toensure you can still access them.

If your slow growing plants are reaching maturity, this may be a tricky job, so do some research and leave enough space.

This helps not only for removal, but for any maintenance you may need to do throughout the years – especially if your screening options are cheap and susceptible to damage that requires repair.

Planning Ahead

Once your first layer of plants or screens have been removed, you canreplace themwith layers of plants beneath the now mature ones.

Again, if you consider this from the start, you may be able to plant thelookyou want years in advance.

I know this option sounds like it will take decades (and it probably would), but you may find suitable choices forshorter timeframes.

Where the quick growing ones block neighbours within a few years, and your ‘slower' options reach a suitable height ( or early maturity) within 6 or 8 years.

It's certainly not for everyone, but it may something you'd like to consider.Especially if it allows you toexpand your plant choicesbeyond quick growing hedge, trees or screening plants.

Suitable For: Price Range:
1/4 Acre Block
Large Garden °
Large Property °
Low $1000's – High $1000's
Depends on protection element and your slow growing choice
Not to mention size of the area you want to plant and/or screen

°Could be anyway from private area to property boundary

10.Design Private Areas Out Of View Behind Buildings

If you are designing your yard from scratch, and you have specific spaces you want to keep private (or views you want to block) you could considerhidingthem in your overall landscape design.

Rather than use some of the components outlined above to block views, useexisting parts of the landscape– or yourhouseandother buildings.

This seems pretty straightforward – because it is!Not only does it make sense – it may end up being yourcheapest option.

hide private area
Instead of placing your ‘private' area out in the open and then attempt to cover it, consider if you can place it out of view in the first place.

One thing to be wary of iscompromisingtheusefulness, orenjoyment, of this space by placing it out of sight.

Don't place your main entertaining, or relaxing, spaces in areas that arecold, windy, dark or other undesirable conditions(obviously this depends on where you live – in the tropics, those might be what you're seeking).

bad weather conditions
If you decide to place it out of sight, make sure you're not compromising your enjoyment of the space by putting it a space with poor conditions.It may be too shady or windy for you to want to spend time there.

You want to enjoy these activities in positions that offer the best conditions.Don't try so hard to find private spaces, only to place yourself in the worst parts of your yard.

If the most suitable conditions are elsewhere in the yard, and those positionsarein view of others, then you're better off looking at theother methodswe've touched on above.

Suitable For: Price Range:
1/4 Acre Block (possibly)
Large Garden
Large Property
Could be $0 especially if you can plan your landscape design before you build it

11.Lower Your Private Spaces Below Ground Level

If you don't have an opportunity to hide private spaces behind buildings, another option could be tolowera part of your backyard andliterally build in a more private space.

This could require some potentially expensive landscaping work, but it may be something your site requires anyway – such as if you're on a slope.

The basic idea is tocut down into the ground and shape itso you can use it to do whatever you want to do.

cut and fill to lower ground level
You could opt to cut some soil to create a lowered pit.In there you can create some benches and other surfaces for your needs.If you're on a slope, you may be cutting and filling some of your site anyway.

It could involvebenchesfor seating or relaxing, or perhapstables– maybe evenacooking or barbecuing area.

aerial view of lowering ground level
Lowering your ground level means you can have lower plants around the edges.From outside they look small and innocuous, but provide all the privacy you need.

You'd want to ensure things are adequatelylined, sealed, drainedetc.– a fairly professional job, especially if it's below other parts of your site.

The last thing you want is flooding and no way to drain excess water.

section view of lowered ground level
You have some freedom to shape your space – your steps down, the chairs and other things like cooking areas.Add in some lower surrounding plants and your 3ft grasses from the outside become 6ft tall from the inside.

The appeal with this approach is you can try to have alovely freeform style to suit whatever you want.

lowered ground level freeform shape
You don't need to stick to straight lines.As long as the ground is properly lined/sealed and drained, you can opt for curves and other shapes.Remember though, if you want to add cladding or other materials, they may need to be specially cut to shape – which will add $$.

And you could put some fairly innocuous plants or other blocking components around the perimeter.

From the outside its a garden bed, hedge or series of screens.But from the inside it's anentire entertaining space, hidden from view.

Suitable For: Price Range:
1/4 Acre Block
Large Garden
Large Property
Low $1000's – Low $10000's
Requires expert input to ensure design would be effective and construction would be adequate

Conclusion

So hopefully you've discovered a few useful ways to block your neighbours from site.

Or at the very least determinedwhatyou want to block,whereyou plant to block it (in your yard) andwhenyou want to block them.

One last point to help deal with this problem.

I suggestnever attempting to solve an outdoor, or garden related issue, inisolation.Whenever you are trying to implement a solution, try to incorporate into part of anoverall design.

This is because it's very easy to think you've solved one problem, only to realise you'veinadvertently created anotherby accident.

The best way to try and block your neighbours is to understand the methods outlined above, but look for opportunities totweak an existing concept or designtoaccommodatethose points.

This could be something like already having garden beds as part of a design.From looking at the info above, youtweak their position slightlyso youalso block your neighbours.

This way, you kill two birds with one stone.You have your original garden bed, but now rather than floating in space, it actually fulfils a purpose for you –providing additional privacy.

These are the kind of things you can layer into your design, should you try and develop an overall, site wide landscape design.If you'd like to learn how, check out any of my guides – the6 Step Beginner Guide, or my ebooks in the sidebar – the Landscape Design 101 guide or my full, complete version –华体会ufcThe Garden Design Process.

Finally, if you'd like to learn more about how to use similar ideas to the methods above, sign up for my email list and get access to my freeIdea Generator Cheat Sheets.

They'll help you unpack any image or piece of inspiration you find, and see how you can apply it to your garden.

We respect youremail privacy

If you want to offer your thoughts, perhaps correct something I've written or share your ideas, feel free to leave a comment below!

Matt

华体会ufcOwner of How To Garden Design, Matt is busy writing all he knows - and researching what he doesn't - to share with other would-be garden designers.

2 thoughts on "11 Landscaping Ideas To Block Your Neighbours"

  1. Thick brush vine fences being something that you can use to provide privacy to your landscape was an idea I really liked reading about from this article.While I respect my neighbors, I still want to make sure we aren't bothered by them or any other suspicious people looking into our property in a very humble way.I'll do this by hiring a landscape expert that can help me set up some vine and shrub fences for sure.

    https://pgamarin.com/landscape-installation

  2. Thanks for the tip about how using screens can be a good way to improve one's landscaping seamlessly.I'd like to know more about how to effectively alter the view outside through landscaping because I'd like to add a bit more privacy to my property.That will help me be able to do more outdoor yoga and meditation without being too self-conscious about it.

    https://hutslandscaping.com/landscape-design

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