Although fences and brick walls can do the trick, adding an extra divider, screen or plant barrier can block your neighbor's two-story view for good. To create your secret retreat, freestanding privacy screens, wood slat partitions and partially enclosed pergolas are effective (and nice to look at).
Pergolas covered with climbing vines, outdoor curtains, or lattice panels can create privacy from your neighbors—in addition to being a backyard shade idea. Gazebos are another permanent backyard privacy solution that can be surrounded by tall potted plants or hanging baskets to give you even more coverage.
With growth rates from 3 to 5 feet per year the fastest growing privacy hedges are Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, Cryptomeria Radicans, and Wax Myrtle. Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Nellie Stevens Holly, Oakland Holly, and Wavy Leaf Ligustrum offer fast privacy with 2 to 3 feet of upward growth per year.
Vinyl is famous for being a low-maintenance, lightweight and stylish material which makes it not only one of the easiest fences to install yourself, but one of the most beautiful!
Wooden Privacy Fences
Wood, for the most part, will be your cheapest option per foot when compared to vinyl and composite fencing.
If You Feel in Danger
If you notice your stalker, try to get away from them and into a public area or into your or a friendly neighbour's home. If the harassment carries on, your only option is to Contact The Local Police.
Place tall plants where necessary to block views, and layer scenes of lower ornamental plantings in front of them. The tall plants that do the actual work of providing privacy should look like intentional parts of an overall planting composition. We like using tall ornamental grasses like Panicum or Miscanthus.
Even where you will be installing the fence within your own property makes a difference. A privacy fence in your backyard will often not require a permit unless it is to be over 6 feet tall, depending on where you live, while the cut-off for the same type of fence in your front yard may be just 3.5 feet.
In summary: premade fence panels, in most cases, are cheaper and requires less installation time.
Wood fences cost about $11 to $45 per linear foot for professional installation. The cost to install vinyl fences professionally is about $15 to $40 per linear foot. For DIY installation, wood is a less expensive material at $1 to $10 per linear foot, while vinyl costs about $10 to $30 per linear foot.
Chain link fencing is a cheap fencing type that can serve your home for many years. This type of fencing's primary role is the creation of physical barriers for entry of intruders and the exit of pets and children at school playgrounds. The material is highly durable cheap and requires little maintenance.
Chain link fences are typically less expensive than wood fences. That's because the material is less expensive and the labor hours required for installation are usually less. However, add-ons like gates, vinyl coating or fabric screens will all increase the total cost per foot of a chain link fence.
Hay-Scented Fern (dennstaedtia punctilobula)
For a plant that takes over large swaths of ground quickly, consider the hay-scented fern. This large, feathery variety grows to about 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide and can easily take over an area in two to three years.
Emerald Green arborvitae, which will eventually reach 12 to 15 feet tall, are a good choice for a four-season privacy planting.
If screening a small space, consider vines on trellises or large containers filled with tall grasses or flowering perennials. Can be a fast grower but is more often slow-growing. Hemlock is a great option for screening near a shady natural setting and is cold tolerant for those at higher elevations.
Cedar or redwood are popular choices for outdoor projects due to their natural resistance to decay and insects. Other suitable options include pine, cypress, and spruce.