Planting for privacy
Written by: Mary Malik
The power of beautiful landscaping to elevate the curb appeal of your home is undeniable. It certainly adds depth, color and character to the overall appearance of your property. However, a well-designed landscape can do even more by providing privacy for your home and family. Doing a little homework before making your landscaping decisions will go a long way in protecting your home from the intrusions of neighbors and street noise. Experts agree that there are several things to be aware of when landscaping for privacy is your goal. The amount of space you want to fill, sun exposure of your home, desire of color and the time of year that privacy is required are all things to consider. With so many options available, it will serve you well to do some research and make a solid plan before heading out to purchase.
Betty Hoeval, a horticulturist at Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton, cannot stress enough that knowing your space limitations is crucial to a proper plan.
“Start by measuring the distance between your property line and the area you are shielding,” says Betty. “Hedges and plants will spread. How much they spread depends on what you choose. Knowing how much room you have will determine your spacing when planting.”
Betty Hoeval, a horticulturist at Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton, cannot stress enough that knowing your space limitations is crucial to a proper plan.
“Start by measuring the distance between your property line and the area you are shielding,” says Betty. “Hedges and plants will spread. How much they spread depends on what you choose. Knowing how much room you have will determine your spacing when planting.”
Betty likes varieties of taxus, boxwood, junipers, hollies, and small serviceberry trees for privacy screening. These choices all provide excellent coverage, and will provide various degrees of color throughout the seasons.
“All are native to this area and do well in the climate,” says Betty. “Dogwoods, beautyberry bushes, hydrangeas, and knockout roses are all good options for flowering shrubs and many give colorful foliage throughout the seasons.”
Betty likes varieties of taxus, boxwood, junipers, hollies, and small serviceberry trees for privacy screening. These choices all provide excellent coverage, and will provide various degrees of color throughout the seasons.
“All are native to this area and do well in the climate,” says Betty. “Dogwoods, beautyberry bushes, hydrangeas, and knockout roses are all good options for flowering shrubs and many give colorful foliage throughout the seasons.”
Experts also recommend getting online, looking in magazines, and just taking a walk through your neighborhood and photographing what you like. You can see how specific varieties will mature, how big they can get, and it gives you a good idea of whether certain plants will work for your space.
According to Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo, if you need to provide a tall screen rather quickly, perhaps creating a barrier along a wide stretch of your property line, the green giant arborvitae is an excellent choice.
“The green giant variety will provide a quick, narrow screen,” says Steve. “It is fast growing and sturdier than other varieties. There’s no need to start too large because they will fill in very quickly. Before you know it, you’ll have the privacy you’re looking for.”
Experts also recommend getting online, looking in magazines, and just taking a walk through your neighborhood and photographing what you like. You can see how specific varieties will mature, how big they can get, and it gives you a good idea of whether certain plants will work for your space.
According to Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo, if you need to provide a tall screen rather quickly, perhaps creating a barrier along a wide stretch of your property line, the green giant arborvitae is an excellent choice.
“The green giant variety will provide a quick, narrow screen,” says Steve. “It is fast growing and sturdier than other varieties. There’s no need to start too large because they will fill in very quickly. Before you know it, you’ll have the privacy you’re looking for.”
The time of year that privacy is required is an important factor to consider for several reasons. Are you looking for a visual screen for your deck or patio only through the spring and summer months, or do you need year ,round, dense coverage to permanently shield your home?
Ornamental grasses like the panicums (panicgrass) and the miscanthus varieties are good options for bordering outdoor areas. Grasses provide visual interest, while allowing for a comfortable airflow—this is a particularly important feature when screening outdoor dining and entertainment areas.
For a quick fix, Barbara Arnold, Senior Horticulturist at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, recommends installing a fence and planting a climbing vine that will bloom throughout the summer. Many varieties, like Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia), not only provide privacy, but also attract certain butterfly species for even more appeal. Climbing hydrangeas, clematis and green ivy are also good screening choices.
The time of year that privacy is required is an important factor to consider for several reasons. Are you looking for a visual screen for your deck or patio only through the spring and summer months, or do you need year ,round, dense coverage to permanently shield your home?
Ornamental grasses like the panicums (panicgrass) and the miscanthus varieties are good options for bordering outdoor areas. Grasses provide visual interest, while allowing for a comfortable airflow—this is a particularly important feature when screening outdoor dining and entertainment areas.
For a quick fix, Barbara Arnold, Senior Horticulturist at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, recommends installing a fence and planting a climbing vine that will bloom throughout the summer. Many varieties, like Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia), not only provide privacy, but also attract certain butterfly species for even more appeal. Climbing hydrangeas, clematis and green ivy are also good screening choices.
“For screening closer to the home, I recommend the common arborvitae,” says Charles Tubesing, the Plant Collections Curator at the Holden Arboretum in Cleveland. “They perform well in our climate, are reliable and provide a nice border. There are also various widths so you may not need as many, which will save you money.”
Charles favors the Emerald scandinavian variety for its green color that will hold through the winter. For full, dense coverage that will provide complete privacy year ,round varieties of both arborvitae and hemlocks do well in full sun or shade, are widely available, cost effective, and provide sound absorption from a nearby freeway or a neighboring pool.
“For screening closer to the home, I recommend the common arborvitae,” says Charles Tubesing, the Plant Collections Curator at the Holden Arboretum in Cleveland. “They perform well in our climate, are reliable and provide a nice border. There are also various widths so you may not need as many, which will save you money.”
Charles favors the Emerald scandinavian variety for its green color that will hold through the winter. For full, dense coverage that will provide complete privacy year ,round varieties of both arborvitae and hemlocks do well in full sun or shade, are widely available, cost effective, and provide sound absorption from a nearby freeway or a neighboring pool.
The idea of layering is popular in interior design, but can provide the same benefits when landscaping areas closer to your home. Experts advise placing taller plants in back, medium growth plants in the middle, and shorter plantings in front. This pattern, along with adding some color, will achieve the look of a garden as opposed to just a one dimensional screen.
For an older home, where many plants and trees are already in place and established, layering is a great way to achieve privacy by simply filling in some of the gaps.
The idea of layering is popular in interior design, but can provide the same benefits when landscaping areas closer to your home. Experts advise placing taller plants in back, medium growth plants in the middle, and shorter plantings in front. This pattern, along with adding some color, will achieve the look of a garden as opposed to just a one dimensional screen.
For an older home, where many plants and trees are already in place and established, layering is a great way to achieve privacy by simply filling in some of the gaps.
“For smaller landscapes, the inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) is a hearty shrub that can very nicely fill in any gaps you may have,” says Roxanne Swann of the Pittsburgh Audubon Society. “It produces tiny flowers in early spring and can reach six to eight feet at maturity.”
Roxanne says that using native trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses that match the existing landscape will replicate the natural habitats of the vegetation while providing food, shelter and nest sites for wildlife.
“Tall, spreading perennials like tall sunflowers (Helianthus giganteus), and N.Y. ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) will provide colorful additions to an informal shrub border as well as attract butterflies and hummingbirds,” says Roxanne.
“For smaller landscapes, the inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) is a hearty shrub that can very nicely fill in any gaps you may have,” says Roxanne Swann of the Pittsburgh Audubon Society. “It produces tiny flowers in early spring and can reach six to eight feet at maturity.”
Roxanne says that using native trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses that match the existing landscape will replicate the natural habitats of the vegetation while providing food, shelter and nest sites for wildlife.
“Tall, spreading perennials like tall sunflowers (Helianthus giganteus), and N.Y. ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) will provide colorful additions to an informal shrub border as well as attract butterflies and hummingbirds,” says Roxanne.
So you see, landscaping your home, new or old, can be a fun, informative, and exciting process. The experts say that although the choices are vast, if you consider these few key points before you begin, you will be on your way to creating a beautiful, and private, home for your family for years to come.
So you see, landscaping your home, new or old, can be a fun, informative, and exciting process. The experts say that although the choices are vast, if you consider these few key points before you begin, you will be on your way to creating a beautiful, and private, home for your family for years to come.
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