When you are at home, do you want privacy? If you do but can’t afford a fence, or do not want one, there are other options. You can turn your home into a cloistered hideaway by growing a natural fence using suitable vines, shrubs, or trees. Not only will plants guarantee privacy, but they will also add curb appeal and value to your home.
Here are the five best plants to grow for privacy landscaping.
1. Boxwood
Landscapers have used boxwood in their landscape designs for many years. The reason behind this is that boxwood plants are evergreen and dense, and that often makes landscapes look elegant.
Many cultivars and varieties of this plant exist. You can grow them for their foliage because they have insignificant flowers. When you allow some boxwood species to grow without trimming, they can reach a height of 20 feet. You can grow boxwood plants in containers and place them where you want to enhance privacy. You can grow them as a fence to create a lush wall to protect your family from snooping eyes.
To get the best out of boxwood plants, you have to choose an appropriate place for them. For optimum growth, these plants need to grow in a location that is partially or completely in the sun. They also need well-drained soil that contains enough organic matter. During the summer, when the temperatures are soaring, you may have to water them regularly and deeply. This is because their roots go deep in the soil and shallow watering may not be helpful.
2. Bamboo
Bamboo is a great plant for privacy landscaping. However, before you plant it, you must make sure the local policies and ordinances allow you to do so. Depending on the region where you live, there could be some restrictions by the government.
If your local authority gives you the green light, then you are lucky. Apart from serving your privacy needs, mature bamboo stalks can earn you some income.
There are two types of bamboo plants: the invasive and the noninvasive type. The noninvasive bamboo (clumping bamboo) is the one that people mainly use for privacy. It is easy to maintain, and you can sculpt it into any shape and size you desire.
The greatest advantage of bamboo is that it grows very fast. Therefore, you will not have to wait longer to enhance your privacy. You will get your exotic and lush privacy hedge very quickly. In fact, when you buy it, the plant will already have a height of between 10 meters and 30 feet.
3. Arborvitae
If you are looking for a fast-growing plant that is also easy to care for, then arborvitae is your answer. This plant will create a privacy screen or a hedge in your yard in record time.
Arborvitaes belong to the cypress family. These are the evergreen plants that do well in many regions around the world. Some varieties thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 11. If you live in a cold zone, there are varieties of the Thuja species that will serve you just fine.
There are many other reasons arborvitae species are among the best plants for privacy landscaping. They have thick and evergreen foliage that creates dense coverage when spaced well. They are low maintenance plants and can survive in many soil conditions. And they come in a variety of sizes, from giant to dwarf. This means you can choose what height you want the plant to attain at its maturity.
4. Privet
Privet is a fast-growing plant that will provide you with privacy faster than you can ever imagine. If you care for it properly, its height will increase by 2 to 3 feet annually. It comes in many varieties, so it’s good to choose one that does well in your region. If you leave it to grow freely, it won’t reach a height of 15 feet. Instead, it will stay at around 10 feet.
If you are comfortable with that height, then you’ll not have to worry much about trimming it. You will only have to cut the overgrown branches that are getting in your way. When it comes to low maintenance, privet is the best plant for privacy landscaping. It has the advantage of being drought-resistant and is very easy to trim.
5. Skip Laurel
With appropriate pruning and shaping, skip laurel provides the best hedge for a privacy screen. With its dense foliage and a height that reaches 10 feet, you can never go wrong with this plant. Skip laurel’s popularity arises from the fact that it is small and can thrive even in shady conditions. It is also attractive. It creates beautiful hedges that provide dense screening and are quite suitable for privacy.
It is also worth mentioning that these plants don’t produce fragrant flowers. This means they are safe, even for people with allergies. They have broad leaves that are glossy and attractive. That explains why they are usually grown in areas where they can create good boundaries and provide privacy for homeowners.
Skip laurels are easy to grow and take care of. All they need is a good amount of sunlight and well-drained soil. Any type of soil can do, provided it has the necessary nutrients. The plants can handle rain and wind and are drought-tolerant, so you need not worry much about watering them.
Other advantages of skip laurels are that they help to control air pollution, and they are disease-free.
Final Words
The privacy of your home is something you can’t compromise. While you can use concrete walls or artificial barriers, these will not look as attractive as a natural one. Plants are not only captivating, but they also help to purify the air around your home. When you have decided to put in a natural hedge, choose plants that thrive in the area where you live. Also, make sure the plants are easy to maintain.