Gain Privacy in Your Yard Using These Natural Elements

Noticing your neighbours a little more then usual at this time of year? I’m not surprised! Everyone wants to get outside, but the trees and shrubs don’t have leaves yet so we all look straight into each other’s yard. This is why the box stores sell a massive amount of cedars in the spring. We rush out to buy some quick privacy for our backyards!

Trees are still a great option to create privacy, but you have to do it right! In my opinion, so many straight rows of cedars have been planted in Canada that they don’t even look odd anymore. The other challenge with evergreens is that conifers are pyramidal in shape, meaning that they are wide at the bottom, and small on top…right where you want the privacy.

Instead of planting a row of cedars, try combining them with a few fast growing deciduous trees. I love using any of the poplar family like aspens or Tulip tree with my evergreens. Here is how I add great privacy using a row of trees. 

• Create a line with landscape paint, string or even a hose on the ground.
• Start at one end of your row by placing an evergreen on the backside of your line.
• The next evergreen is planted 2-3’ down the row on the front side of the line.
• Third tree in the row is deciduous, again on the backside of the line. 2 more evergreens on the front, followed by another poplar on the backside and so on for the length of your privacy hedge.
•  The leaf trees fill in the empty spaces around the top of the conifers and by alternating types of trees along the row, it looks visually appealing in your yard.

If you can’t wait for trees to grow, try an arbour which is my favourite way of creating privacy from those two-story houses that look down into your yard. Arbours are simply four posts and some cross pieces of wood that loosely create a roof over a deck or patio. The reason that these structures work so well is actually a bit of a visual trick. The stylishly trimmed wood overhead provides the eye a visual-distraction.

It gives the eye something to focus on and even though the neighbours may still be able to see into the yard, your guests don’t notice them because of the arbour. The one down side of these structures is the cost to install. Plan on spending about $750 - $1200 to do it right. Well worth it though; an arbour is a true investment in your home.

Not sure where you need the most privacy? Try standing on your deck or patio and really take a good look around you. Who do you see? If you can see your neighbours, then your neighbours can see you.

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