I worked Francesca Clarke at AOL’s DIY Life Network on a feature story about creating green structures with trees and shrubs for privacy in your garden and outdoor spaces. There are many options available for all budgets and timelines, depending on how soon do you need a privacy screen from a neighboring home or structure and how quickly you want to block unwanted views. Pictured is a GardenWise garden in DC which includes Black Bamboo which serves as a screen.
I recommend to my clients if they have the space is to off-set the shrubs you use for a privacy screen and consider using different heights for a more natural affect. Also, if a plant dies with staggered plant scheme along with the varying heights, the gap created by the dead plant is not so obvious. The back row should have the tallest plants that will create the screen. The middle row should have medium height plants, such as a smaller deciduous shrub such as an Annabelle Hydrangea, which will offer texture contrast and offer summer color. The front row should be composed of your shortest plants and evergreen ground cover, such as variegated Liriope, which is grass like and has the added bonus feature of a late summer spiky lavender colored flower. Another striking affect I like is to use the purple coneflower and the Russian sage against the pendulous white blossoms of the hydrangea will be smashing. Unity in an outside space is the best way to quickly provide a stimulating visual.