Attractive Ways to Add Privacy to Small Backyards
by Joey Pebble

Description: Tips for using natural and living fences to create privacy in your backyard.
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While a nice big backyard is a wonderful retreat where you can go and enjoy the natural beauty of the world on your own terms, a small city backyard is not quite as much fun. Not only is it tiny and cramped, but chances are you will also have neighbors bearing down on you from every direction. Even if these neighbors are the most polite and discrete people in the world, the fact that everyone is so close together means your backyard isn't going to have any privacy at all, and whenever you go out to enjoy a little bit of sun and fresh air, everyone in the area is going to know about it. Luckily there are a variety of methods that you can use to add a little privacy to the space, while still maintaining a beautiful and subtle living area.

The most effective method for isolating your backyard from the rest of the world is to fence it in. There are a wide variety of fencing materials you can get including plastic beams, wooden stakes, wire mesh, and even brick, if you want something to keep out invading tribes. While these methods vary in there effectiveness, none of them are terribly subtle. They are all man made manufactured items that are going up to isolate your property from the rest of the world.

Using natural and living fences is a way of creating that same isolation, in a much more subtle and laid back manner. The most common living fences are created by planting a line of shrubs, or small trees around the perimeter of the yard. Depending on how mature these are when they are planted, you can either have an instant privacy wall, or can slowly watch as one grows up around you. Miniature fruit trees such as apple or peach, or ornamental flowering trees like magnolia plants are all popular choices for this endeavor.

One way of combining man made with natural barriers is to create a hanging vine fence. This is done by lining the property with wooden or wire trellises, and then planting hanging vines, and training them to grow up the sides of the trellis. There are a wide variety of decorative vines that can be purchased for this such as honeysuckle, morning glories, and rose bushes.

One thing to consider when using any sort of living fence is whether the pant has leaves, or flowers, which will shed annually. While bright flowers and rich lush leaves are beautiful during the spring and summer, you may be asking for a little extra working raking them up when they shed those features in the fall and winter. Shrubs such as Wax myrtles, juniper bushes, and barberry shrubs don't tend to shed much and are easier to maintain than some of their leafier counterparts.

The type of fence that you choose will not only affect you on the inside of the property, but it will also affect how others on the outside view you. A giant brick wall is going to make you seem remote, and may even be an insult to some of your friendlier neighbors. On the other hand a living tree or shrub fence will be more subtle, but less effective at keeping nosey eyes out. They may also require more care and maintenance. You should choose a fence which best reflects how you want to interact with your neighbors, and your home.

This article was provided courtesy of PebbleZ - designers of unique natural stone home décor products. It was written by Joey Pebble, an author, philosopher, and one of the designers who works on the PebbleZ line.

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