Creating Privacy in Your Yard

Using plants as a screen or fence is a beautiful way to block undesirable views and provide privacy for you and your family. Plant screens also absorb unwanted road noise and provide wind breaks against wind. Trees can be used, although it might take time for them to grow large enough. Shrubs can be used as a hedge, and many ornamental grasses grow tall enough to provide screening. Clumping bamboo is also a quick-growing screen.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Screen Out Unwanted Views

UF/IFAS Publications

• Basic Principles of Landscape Design
• Beware of the Monoculture Hedge (PDF)
• Creating Vegetative Screens (PDF)
• How to Grow a Vegetative Screen (PDF)
• Many Reasons to Plant Vines (PDF)

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Clumping Bamboo
• Disguising Utilities
• Vines

Other Sites

• Creative Screening with Plants--Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
• Design by Function: Privacy Screen--Learn2Grow.com
• Evergreens Provide Privacy, Screen for Unsightly Views--eXtension.org
• Four Ideas for Screening a Yard--Fine Gardening
• Landscape Screening--University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension
• Use Plants to Create Privacy in Your Yard--Polk County (FL) Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
• Using Trees and Shrubs for Privacy and Wind Screening--Penn State Cooperative Extension (PDF)