Wondering how to design instant privacy for your yard? I’ve helped clients and do-it-yourselfers find ideas for fast growing, tall & narrow, and low cost privacy solutions. It’s not WHAT you use for instant backyard privacy, but how you use it… After all, there’s no way to make a tree grow overnight. In this video, learn a landscape designer’s practical, realistic secrets for quickly planning private yards on a budget.
Here are some ways you can get involved and learn more:
🪴 FREE MINI COURSE: How to choose the perfect plant (and put it in the right place): https://www.gardenprojectacademy.com/free-mini-course-choose-the-perfect-plant/
I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!
🪴 Design-Your-Own Landscape Layout ONLINE COURSE
…is now OPEN for enrollment!
For do-it-yourselfers who want to create their own landscape design, but just need a little extra guidance.I’ll walk you through the design process, step by step, so you can create a practical, hand-drawn “layout plan”(a landscape design plan that shows the layout of the finished design).
Learn more and sign up, here!
DIY Landscape Design Online Course: Design-Your-Own Landscape Layout
🪴 Follow my newsletter, here, for free gardening resources and updates on new courses: https://www.gardenprojectacademy.com/newsletter/
Here are some related videos that you may find helpful!
🌱 Designing a landscape from scratch? Start with USE, first:
🌱 Why proper plant spacing is so important:
🌱 How to make a landscaping project look finished fast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZE6yQ-D9BI&list=PLT4LLM91GU1vCdjFTxJ_KorHiqKuEo3jr&index=1
🌱 Mulch Video Series~ What you need to know about mulch for successful landscaping:
And if you’re new here, hello! My name is Eve Hanlin, I’m a certified horticulturist and landscape designer from the Pacific Northwest corner of the USA. I’ve offered in-person landscape design services for years and now I am taking landscape design online by offering digital courses and resources for do-it-yourselfers. This is my new business: Garden Project Academy.
You can also follow me on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenprojectacademy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardenprojectacademy
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gardenprojectacademy/
Tag me in your projects @gardenprojectacademy. I would love to see what you’re working on!
Remember that everything in my videos are for informational purposes only: It is entirely up to you to decide what is best for you, and your landscape.
©2022 Garden Project Academy LLC
44 Comments
Can you provide a link to the software you used to model that landscaping project?
I'm going to send this to my dad lol. He keeps talking about putting in a massive (like 300 feet long) line of arborvitae along the neighboring dirt road that has dump trucks going up and down it to block dust and noise. Its up a little bit of a hill too. I've been trying to convince him to not plant a bunch of identical plants, because one will die, and then it will look weird, or we will have to size match an arb. I'm on team 'buy a bunch of about 6 different evergreens and put them on a zig zag so it doesn't look odd if we have to replace something. And then we get the bonus of not having to mow the hill, and the roots will stabilize the bank
What software were you using to model the landscapes? I'm designing a landscape for a new construction in the middle of an old hayfield and my infinite number of paper scribbles is getting old
Love your videos and your fantastic viewpoint. Just wanted to know if you have ideas on creating privacy to address noise issues … barking dogs, noisy cars etc. Hope you address these in an upcoming video. Thanks for your thoughtful insights.
Eve, you've shared some good nuggets of wisdom here:
* Bring the privacy screen closer to you for faster privacy.
* Create a screen from a variety of plant choices rather than just putting in a line of the same plant. This is more attractive and protects you from plant failure.
* And of course plan with a purpose and work with outdoor rooms.
Loved the hedging your bet joke 🙂
What program are you using in this video? Can anyone buy it? I’d love to use it. Thanks!!
Hi, really useful video! I live in north-west England, pretty much zone 8a. Like most gardens in the UK, ours is very small but surrounded by two-storey houses. Up until recently, most of the houses had older folk like us, but they are all gradually dying or moving out and young families moving in. Before, everyone was quiet and respectful, and privacy wasn't really an issue, but now it's like Disneyland – bouncy castles, trampolines, barbecues every night in summer, and kids in the upstairs rooms hanging out the windows and being cheeky. We need some privacy and fast, but I'm always worried about planting fast-growing trees and/or hedging because we won't be able to afford to get someone in to trim them. Your ideas are great, and very do-able. It's not just in the garden we need privacy, but also when indoors as their windows look directly down into our sitting-room, and we don't want to make the house dark with blinds etc. Thanks for the ideas.
I live in Northern Colorado I have neighbors with noisy kids all summer long they turned their large patio into a basketball court with tall basketball net. Also their large side kitchen window looks into our yard . I do have Aspen there and a walking trail but it is not enough to block out their view and my view. So I decided on Emerald green arborvitae and Juniper trees but also in front of the cedar fencing maybe a raised trellis of 7 feet to 8 feet to block the view fast at less cost . An arbor with a bench might work if I ad more wood to the top on back but who wants to sit with all that noise at your back and no peace. So my challenge is to find height in any way to block the views at affordable cost. I am 62 years old I do not have time on my hands to wait 5 to 10 years for small spruce or pine to grow when I need privacy now . I prefer not using more leaf trees because they only block during the summer and I have enough leaves to rake for 2 months every autumn. The lattice raised panels in those unsightly areas may work the best with arborvitae growing slowly next to them though the neighbors may be offended but if they have no respect to me of controlling their spoiled brats with noise then I do not care what they think. Finding peace and privacy is not easy and not everyone can live off grid far from suburbs do to age or health reasons or both.
I have a highway behind my backyard. The back yard is pretty big and there is a pretty high fence but because I am below it, I can still see and hear it, especially on the second floor. I'm older so I don't want to wait for things to grow. Most people don't buy homes near highways but for various reasons I did.
Hello! Thank you for the helpful videos that you make! I just discovered your channel. Do you have a video that is about windy backyards? Our new house is placed on the north corner of our yard and we have the east, south and west to plant things. The house is on top of the hill and there are always winds from the west. Is there any trees I can grow there that can stop the wind a little bit?
Just moved to a new house and the yard is densely shaded with walnut trees and the deer eat everything. It feels hopeless.
Hedging your bets! No pun intended😆Thank you for your indepth videos.
We live in a very hilly, beautiful area. We have gorgeous views out the back side of our house. The problem first is the wind. In Spring it is horrible. Now our problem is a house is being built out the back side, but to our left. Not close, But about a quarter of a mile in the pasture. It destroys part of our view. We have had wide open views for many years. We want our privacy. So we are trying to figure out what plantings we could put along our property line to give us more privacy. We have even thought of using a building and putting it on that side. I do like your idea of using plantings closer to you to help with privacy. We are working on planting lot of bushes and trees in that area. I am looking forward to watching your channel for ideas.
Hi Eve! I just found your channel and I'm excited to watch several of your videos. I'm definitely going to implement some of your techniques so that I can increase privacy around my house. Do you happen to have a video or any recommendations on how to reduce the sound of noisy neighbors so that a person can enjoy their outdoor areas again? Thank you.
I just don't know. Aside from supplying fodder for conservative talk shows, "investigations investigations investigations". I don't see the GOP shaking a tail feather.
We have a huge yard–1/2 acre–with a long side that borders an increasingly busy road. I am imagining a smaller lower fenced "entertainment area" that can be landscaped for privacy, while leaving a large piece of yard for the kids to play ball, etc. Your info seems to line up with what I was thinking. Thank you.
I need to plan my yard. I have no idea what to do. I will keep on watching you to learn😊
I watch videos like this because there is always the possibility of one tiny idea that hasn't crossed my mind, and I found more than one here. I have a large space on the south side of the house (that I rent) that is adjacent to an apartment tower property. The owner has given me permission to plant as I like. In the front yard, I have created something pretty great just by dividing perennials that were already here. In the side yard however, it is a challenging growing area because of shade due to mature trees and also roots everywhere. So mostly it is dry shade – in a zone with hundreds of potential peekers! Chainlink fence too. 😭
I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!
🪴Design-Your-Own Landscape Layout ONLINE COURSE 🪴is now OPEN for enrollment!
For do-it-yourselfers who want to create their own landscape design, but just need a little extra guidance.
I’ll walk you through the design process, step by step, so you can create a practical, hand-drawn "layout plan" (a landscape design plan that shows the layout of the finished design).
Learn more and sign up, here!
https://www.gardenprojectacademy.com/diy-landscape-design-online-course/
I live in Zone 2/3 and am looking to create privacy with trees. Have a few ideas I am working on..:0)
Too time consuming for me 65 near 66 nosey and open are will use fabrics etc
And it looks costly
I love this concept! Having the software to be able to visualize this is so helpful too. What is it called?
I like that you speak quickly and to the point! Very helpful videos.
I live in the Detroit, Michigan area. The maple tree in our small backyard has been dying and is quite damaged and it seems to be time to say goodbye to it. What would you think of us having the tree removed and seeing if the mulch from this maple could be used in our yard, possibly to convert from a lawn yard to all garden and pathways? My first concern would be wood ants or other pests that might be in the tree. Is that a common problem? Would love your input, please. Thank you! Love your channel. (-:
My neighbors planted conifers about 10ft from my house. They are about 40ft tall now. They block all the light on one side of my house and make backing out of the driveway daunting. Please be considerate people!
Eve….loved your Dad joke "hedging your bets". Thanks for the great content.
You make so much sense! We've had several landscape designs over the years but none as practical and thorough as you. Wish you were in St Louis. We ate " fighting" with a design for replacing a privacy berm. The first guy put in 5 Norway pines and completely o er rode my objections. Now since one of them died my husband agrees we need diversity but this new designers said that would look weird. We have to do it ourselves. I'm going to take your course about choosing plants. Thank you. And btw, you're doing a great job on YouTube👍🏻
Wow. What software is that? Looks very user friendly.
You’re amazing. I’m trying to create privacy on a corner lot on a budget!
We just cleared 4 acres and are trying to figure out what to do with it. I know I want to plant trees and plants to make all the birds and insects happy. I also want an area for a large garden and lots of fruit trees so we can be self sufficient if need be. We will add a garage for the hubby and a covered area to have wine and enjoy the sunset. I live in central Texas where we grow rocks lol!! In the yard area where the house is I'm working on a hummingbird haven. This week I will put down the lasagna method since we still have a few storms ahead of us. Ty so much for your videos they are an eye opener I'm having so much fun learning from u.
What a terrific resource you have here! Thank you. In a few months I’ll be working on our backyard. Updating the fence, adding trees and shrubs.
is there a free 3D program you recommend to help with layout and visualize a space?
Cool channel, glad I found you. I'm in the Midwest but a lot of this applies to anywhere.
Eve, you're helping me to think "outside the box" when it comes to location and types of plants. This is great; love your channel!🥰🥰
I want to work on this and see if anything will work for our yard. But I think we will have to start from scratch completely now. We have an enclosed back porch since the fence to the neighbors is right outside that porch and patio beneath it. First was blinds on their side. Then after continuing privacy issues when we landscaped and added a garden pond area we built a privacy wall between us and noticed the gate was often unlocked and open, so replaced the gate to only open with a inside key.
The neighbors have been angry every since. So it’s turned into hiding inside the house and letting the entire side of our home shuttered and overgrown to avoid them.
The older man came out and asked why we were putting up a wall and my husband simply said it was because I the wife, wanted more privacy. So neighbor said but I can still see into your yard and your house from that window up there, I also have binoculars…..
Whenever I go outside he uses a pa megaphone to make lewd noises and blare a police siren noise at me…
So now I’m a decade agoraphobic terrified from trespassing harassing bullying neighbors and we’ve spent thousands on them, replacing landscaping areas they’ve cut down inside our yards or damaged with their own on the property line shuns and trees and removing our own patio areas like pools and fire pits because the yard smells so bad from the feral neighbor cat feeding station that we’ve given up…
It’s a historic Victorian in a gorgeous neighborhood we overpaid for with plans on staying forever and now we just wish we had retired anywhere but here because it’s a stuck until I die now kinda purchase.
I love your videos ❤ and your voice is really soothing
I am trying to plant around ground mounted solar to have medicinal herbs and kitchen garden plus an above ground pool in the back without encroaching on the septic aerobic system. I need to remove trees in the back and replace the privacy lost along the property line. Also cb need to remove immature trees that will block my solar and replace them with a short orchard or permaculture privacy garden in front. All of this must leave space for a small addition, storage buildings and covered parking. That is all.
Dang you really talk fast. I suggest slowing it down a little bit. It's very overwhelming
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 This was so helpful!
We bought a new house with a clean slate. I do wish I watched some videos before I planted 17 emerald green arborvitaes in a row on one side for needed privacy. Can't undo that, but thinking of how to layer…and what to do with the other side of the house. Have any ideas????
I am trying to make a privacy fence cause my neighbor is a violent alcoholic. These videos give me a bit of hope.🤣🤣 Thank you!!
Another great video. I have many types and in away from boundaries. They make such a big difference.