It is that time of the year when you realize that spring is finally here, summer is about to start, and that your neglected backyard needs some love. Yes, this is the right time to start your outdoor project, if you have some time to spare and enough strength in your arms to actually complete the job.
Having your own private backyard is something that most “town and city dwellers” can just dream of. However, the reality of a backyard is not that “dreamy”. In most cases that is a small area filled with weeds, dead lawn and dandelions.
Let’s take my backyard for example – It is a relatively old backyard which ground was so hard that a rototiller would not cut it. The entire plot was over 60 years old, and the soil was practically dead, hard, and grey. I wanted something else – a space that felt like a retreat, one where I could chill, grill, and relax with my friends. To say that my backyard needed an overhaul would be an understatement.
I hadn’t known a thing about soil and grass, and flowers. This is why I had to ask my friend who works at Handy Flowers, an online flower shop, to help me. When we finally finished with the soil, we started thinking about all the ways we could add a little bit of privacy to my yard. I had a small fence, but that was not enough. He told me that there is a huge selection of trees, shrubs, and vines that could help me turn my simple yard into a secluded retreat.
These are the ones he thought were the best.
1. Thuja
This is my favorite option when it comes to what to plant for privacy. It is an evergreen tree that provides a good dense hedge when the trees are spaced correctly. It can handle most soil conditions, and it doesn’t need too much maintenance. There are several different varieties of different size, from dwarf to giant, and that is why you need to consider the size of a variant that you want to choose for your yard.
2. Bamboo
This is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. This is why you should choose bamboo if you need a lush and exotic privacy wall very quickly. This huge grass also comes in a variety of species so you should choose the one that fits your needs. Some varieties can be extremely invasive, and that is why you need to be very careful when choosing the right one.
3. Skip Laurel
This is really an awesome plant you can enjoy full privacy and enjoy the evergreen natural environment in your yard. We all know that privacy is very important, however, it is really hard to achieve it quickly when you need it. It is especially very difficult to find a tough plant that could grow fast and tolerate shade and dryness while producing a nice dense hedge. Look no further. The Skip Laurel is an ideal plant for those situations.
It needs four years to grow up to ten-foot (with fertilizer and regular watering).
4. Rose of Sharon
Strangely, this is not an actual rose. It is a member of the mallow family; it grows lush and tall in the summer and loses its beautiful leaves in the winter, making it a nice plant if you need privacy only during the summer. And you should know that Rose of Sharon is a name that has been used to several different species of flowering plants that are being grown in different parts of the world.
5. Privet
This is not especially beautiful plant when considered in isolation; however, they excel in the role of hedges. It grows really fast, and if given proper care, it can add about three feet to its height each year.
When you grow privet as a hedge, you need to trim it regularly. In spring, this plant produces a thick cover of sweet-smelling white flowers. Some people like it, others don’t – it is a matter of taste.
6. Hicks Yew
Don’t expect from this plant to be fancy or flashy. It is a very subtle choice if you want a living fence or a privacy screen. It has long, upright-growing branches with glossy, dark green, dense foliage and it naturally forms a narrow, columnar habit. It grows well in both full sun and full shade, and it remains a very popular hedge in a variety of climate conditions.
Hicks Yew‘s soft needles and winter berries make this plant beautiful during any season all year round.
So, what will you choose for your backyard?