If there’s a silver lining to the year’s events, it’s how so many of us have had an opportunity to slow down a little bit. Being at home during the transition from early to late spring has given us an opportunity to watch the world wake up in slow-motion, from first bud to first bloom. Those therapeutic daily walks to get some sunshine have now become a cherished ritual in our daily lives, and spending more time outside is becoming a greater priority.
Here’s the catch, though; we’re all feeling the urge to soak up the outdoors, and we’re all home at the same time, trying to enjoy it. Even if your neighbours are the kindest, sweetest people on Earth, chances are you’re looking to spend time outside at the same time without being an accidental participant in all of each other’s conversations. These days, privacy is more precious than ever before. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do in the landscape to enhance the look of the space while also (subtly!) reclaiming your privacy.
Privacy can be a tricky thing when it comes to the neighbourly dynamic. You don’t want Tom and Carol next door thinking you don’t enjoy their company, but sometimes you also need to establish boundaries between your yards. If you have neighbours on both sides, that goes double!
Adding hedging is a subtle way to create some extra privacy without making a big statement. If your chain-link fence is just not cutting it, lining the fencing with columnar trees, like cedars, or dense shrubs, like boxwood, obscures the view into your yard and muffles sounds from the other side of the property line. For a prettier touch that your neighbours will surely appreciate, opt for some gorgeous flowering shrubs. The springtime scent of lilac is one of life’s great pleasures, and the shrubs provide a tall, dense screen between yards.
Here’s a pro tip; you don’t have to choose just one species! It’s common for folks to get a little matchy-matchy with their yard shrubbery, but I strongly encourage you to look closely at some of the really gorgeous landscapes in your neighbourhood or on Pinterest. You’ll notice that the best landscape designs blend multiple tree and shrub species to create contrasts in height, shape, and colour. Blending species also helps to encourage four-season interest.
For example, a Red Sunset Maple will grow to provide three-season shade and phenomenal fall colour, a Dwarf Korean Lilac will brighten the view in the spring, and an Incrediball Hydrangea’s basketball-sized blooms will become the focal point in the summer. Interplanting various evergreens, from stunning Moffat Blue Juniper to compact Birds Nest Spruce, adds more variety while guaranteeing some colour and privacy during the winter months.
However, trees and shrubs aren’t the only options you have for creating vertical interest and privacy. Climbing vines are always in style, and a mature vine on any structure is always a conversation piece. Clematis is a classic perennial vine that covers any structure with a mass of blooms, and there’s no shortage of shades and flower shape options to mix and match. For some seasonal, summery flair, tropical vines like Mandevilla and Bougainvillea stretch upward to provide a screen of glossy foliage and candy-coloured flowers.
While plants can do most of the work of a fence, sometimes you need to invest in the real thing. Whether the old one is showing its age or simply isn’t adding to the space, a new fence can transform the curb appeal of your home. These days, there are so many more styles to choose from than the white picket fences of yore. Lately, fences with horizontal slatting are having a moment, and more folks are opting for details like lattice trim or metal framing to add some personality to the landscape design.
If you’re on a corner lot, or you just have noisy neighbours, you may be more concerned about blocking unwanted sounds than prying eyes. There’s no better way to manage this than with a water feature—and boy, do I love water features! Let me take a moment to tell you why you should just go for it and add a water feature this year:
There’s not just one way to do a water feature, either—as landscape designers, my husband Dave and I have created them in every style. It doesn’t matter what size your yard is, what your style is, or what the layout of your yard is; water features can be custom-built to work for you. If you’ve been dreaming for years of putting in a tiered waterfall with aquatic plants, natural stones, and dancing fish, just go for it! You won’t regret it, and future guests (or even future home buyers) will fall in love instantly.
Lastly, let’s talk about the ultimate in backyard privacy: shade structures. Pergolas and gazebos sit on the line between indoors and outdoors, creating “rooms” in the yard for dining, sipping coffee, relaxing, or any other activity you want to enjoy in privacy. Pergolas make great surfaces for the aforementioned climbing vines to cover, letting you blend sun and shade with a single structure. Gazebos, meanwhile, have a tendency to become everyone’s favourite place in their home. Who doesn’t love the idea of a living room with a great view and a light breeze?
Privacy is important for our wellbeing and sense of security, so don’t ignore your feelings if it seems to be lacking in your landscape. With fixes for every style and budget, a more relaxing yard is never too many steps away. Not sure how these ideas could work for you? Schedule a landscape consultation today by contacting us by email at landscapeservices@royalcitynursery.com.
