Okay, so lately I've been thinking about how much I enjoy my backyard, but um...the neighbors are a little too close for comfort. You know how it is, you step outside to relax and suddenly you're making awkward eye contact with Bob next door watering his begonias. 😂
Anyway, I'm trying to decide what to do about it. I've seen some cool privacy screens online, but they seem kinda flimsy. Then there's always the classic wooden fence, but that's a bit pricey and feels kinda fortress-y. My sister swears by planting tall shrubs or bamboo, but I'm worried about maintenance and stuff.
Figured I'd toss up a quick poll to see what everyone else prefers:
What's your favorite way to keep your backyard private?
- Privacy screens (fabric or lattice)
- Wooden fence
- Tall plants/shrubs
- Bamboo or grasses
- Don't care—neighbors can watch me grill in my pajamas 🤷♂️
Feel free to share your experiences or any funny neighbor stories you've got. I'm all ears!
I totally get the hesitation about bamboo—it's beautiful, but it can definitely take over if you're not careful. My neighbor planted some a few years back, and now it's practically invading my yard too...I joke that it's plotting world domination.
Have you considered mixing things up a bit? Maybe a shorter wooden fence combined with some native shrubs or grasses in front. It softens the fortress vibe, gives you privacy, and supports local wildlife at the same time. Plus, native plants usually mean less maintenance once they're established, which is always a win in my book.
And hey, if Bob still manages to peek over while watering those begonias, at least you'll have something nice to chat about!
"Maybe a shorter wooden fence combined with some native shrubs or grasses in front."
This is exactly what I did a couple years back, and honestly, it's been great. I went with cedar fencing (smells amazing, btw) and planted a mix of tall grasses, coneflowers, and black-eyed susans along the front. Privacy is decent, maintenance is minimal, and bonus: butterflies everywhere now. Plus, Bob can still wave occasionally without feeling like he's spying...win-win all around.
Cedar fences do look great, and native plants are always a plus...but honestly, I've found shorter fences don't always cut it for privacy. We tried something similar at our last place, and while it looked nice, neighbors could still peek over pretty easily. Ended up going with a taller fence and strategic tree planting—river birches and maples—and now we have real privacy plus shade. Butterflies are cool, but sometimes you just want to chill without feeling like you're on display, ya know?
