Help with backyard privacy PIP

Laurentian

Ok, I would like to create some more privacy.  As you can see from the pics below, my neighbors house in right smack in my yard. I can see their house on my back porch, in my kitchen, and in the yard.  We're friends with them but when i sit on my porch I dont want to have to talk to people, its that expectation of privacy that we dont have.

We planted evergreens, which need to be staked due to the ice we've just had, hopefully so in the next 5-10 years they will provide privacy.

I'd like something more immediate. 

I want to create a small area that is enclosed by greenery that will grow quickly, so that if I put a table and chairs in the middle, we can sit and be surrounded by green.

Backyard view- summer time. Note- the cyprus trees were not yet planted in this pic

View from my kitchen window.  They can see directly in the kitchen so  I always keep shades down.  Excuse the mess of a wall- this room is being redone.  This is part two of my problem- I would like to create an enclosed space for a table outside but would also like to somehow plant something in front of this window to provide more privacy but also still allow light.  How?

And here is the view from my back porch and the curtains that provide privacy.

So, do you have any pics that might help?  Suggestions of what type of fast growing greenery we can plant?  Any ideas are appreciated

lovelainie

Have you considered bamboo? It would definitely grow quickly, but getting rid of it once your evergreens are bigger would probably be a problem. Ornamental grasses might work, too, as would sunflowers...

Laurentian

Maybe i could do bamboo in front of the kitchen windows? I like the sunflower idea too.

Then in the middle of the yard, I'd like to have greenery surrounding table and chairs that is high enough to create privacy.  What about hedges?

I orignally had an idea of making the kitchen window french doors which would lead out to a deck area or an enclosed greenery area like I mentioned above. But, im not sure when we could afford that kind of reno.  Then on the deck, I'd use a combo of potted plants and lattice to create privacy.  I would look out my kitchen window/french doors and see the deck and the plants but not my neighbors house... 

 

laddiebug

Laurentian:

Maybe i could do bamboo in front of the kitchen windows? I like the sunflower idea too.

Then in the middle of the yard, I'd like to have greenery surrounding table and chairs that is high enough to create privacy.  What about hedges?

I orignally had an idea of making the kitchen window french doors which would lead out to a deck area or an enclosed greenery area like I mentioned above. But, im not sure when we could afford that kind of reno.  Then on the deck, I'd use a combo of potted plants and lattice to create privacy.  I would look out my kitchen window/french doors and see the deck and the plants but not my neighbors house... 

 

Bamboo next to a house is always a bad idea. Just an FYI. They can tear your foundation to pieces if the roots aren't contained and it's allowed to spread.

Laurentian

laddiebug:

Laurentian:

Maybe i could do bamboo in front of the kitchen windows? I like the sunflower idea too.

Then in the middle of the yard, I'd like to have greenery surrounding table and chairs that is high enough to create privacy.  What about hedges?

I orignally had an idea of making the kitchen window french doors which would lead out to a deck area or an enclosed greenery area like I mentioned above. But, im not sure when we could afford that kind of reno.  Then on the deck, I'd use a combo of potted plants and lattice to create privacy.  I would look out my kitchen window/french doors and see the deck and the plants but not my neighbors house... 

 

Bamboo next to a house is always a bad idea. Just an FYI. They can tear your foundation to pieces if the roots aren't contained and it's allowed to spread.

Oh! Well, that's good to know!

Mrs.Lucy1230

I'm planning on building an arbor for my deck/patio and putting in honeysuckle or Wysteria vines to grow up the arbor. That will really help you create the green private space you crave.

I think the evergreen trees are your best bet for the total privacy issue. You might have to shell out the money for bigger, mature trees if you don't want to wait the time it takes for them to grow.

I would pass on the bamboo. It can get out of hand really fast and is extremely invasive.

lovelainie

I would keep any and all honeysuckle far, far away from your house. I just spent eight hours last weekend helping a friend try to remove it from under her porch, her retaining wall, and under the siding of her house. It was quite unpleasant.

sammy1856

I would definitely agree with that sentiment!  Bamboo will get out of control if not properly taken care of, and for that matter can get out of control with proper care!  

 I had the same problem in my yard, we have a privacy fence but we are on a hill so we could see directly into our neighbors yard, and as could they with their deck.  We planted a line of cryptomeria evergreen trees.  We purchased the medium size so they would provide some instant privacy.  I will say they are somewhat on the pricey side, but well worth it!  They will get quite large, but the variety we purchased you can prune so we can keep them at the height we would prefer once they are full grown. Good luck, I feel your pain!