I have about 100’ of metal fence and looking for some type of hedge or vine that can add some privacy and grow along the fence without cutting into too much yard space. Harsh direct west sun in socal.
Why buy a house with views like this just to block them? Make it make sense
TulipFarmer27
With that view, are you out of your mind?
collin2477
i’d build a wall about half that height and plant some low level bushes. I wouldn’t want to block that much of the view.
Exciting_Ad_1097
Get some tiki party fence made of bamboo reeds and attach it to the back of the iron fence. This will give you a immediate privacy while you wait for your vines to grow. The vines will overtake the bamboo fence and it will just compost in place over the next 5 years or so.
golf____
Privacy from what? Bears?
MyLiverLivesOn
It’s facing downslope of the hill you’re on and every house in front of you is lower and lower, the closest being not eye level at all. Looks steep and awkward for people to be walking up there to chat you up.
Anyways back to the question, Maybe just hang some ice plants from the top and they will hang downward pretty far. Many species of ice plants not all droop and get long tendrils. Two large planter wall boxes side by side with drooping ferns or ice plants would be my route.
Andrea583
We had a nice orange honeysuckle hedge BUT we loved how much larger our yard seemed as well as the view when we removed it. Leave it as is.
Huckleberry-hound50
Jasmine.
tenasan
Are you in Yorba Linda, CA….im literally looking at a very similar view rn
112s8uk9po5
Boxwood
Emily_Porn_6969
It would be criminal to obstruct that view . Privacy from who ?
Few-Serve3238
What are you doing that requires so much privacy ? Seems like any neighbors are far away.
Unfair_You_1769
More photos would help
Otherwise-Mango2732
So clearly there’s some prying eyes.
Where are they coming from ? Then we can answer
pattyozz
Get some tall native grasses (where do you live??) that have seed heads that will catch that golden hour light
the_climaxt
My recommendation is sit in a chair 10′ from that fence and look again. The houses will be out of view.
You don’t stand right next to the fence when you’re using your yard. That’s just not how yards work.
Zombies8MyChihuahua
Sure, Jan
FuzzeWuzze
Climbing roses? It take some work up to keep them pruned but could work. We have this growing on a arbor, extra points because it continously blooms and is thornless.https://heirloomroses.com/products/zephirine-drouhin
SomewhereSalty647
Privacy from who/what? Looks like your neighbors are below you
Atlein_069
Boulders could work
secondphase
If you destroy that view, so help me I will come out there and rip out whatever monstrosity you put in and then throw you down the very hill that makes this property so special.
Sincerely,
A bottom-of-the-hill asshole with an 8 ft privacy fence.
Inturnelliptical
Blackberry, you’ll have fruits too pick in the summer.
curiosity_2020
Build a berm. You could grow grass or short shrubs on it.
Blunt4words20
You are above everyone. No one, is looking up at you!
Blunt4words20
Grow wine grapes
bbirkey3601
Wisteria, crossvine
cereal-expert
Ornamental passionflower if you don’t mind aggressively cutting it back once it gets fully in place. Grows fast, loves to climb, pretty flowers.
maybetomorrow98
Maybe a native vine to grow on the fence? Then it would block the view of the neighbors but couldn’t grow any taller than the fence itself
Primary-Set8747
Is this the circlejerk page?
Tentomushi-Kai
I’m assuming you want a hedge only fence high so no one can see if you’re not wearing pants? If so, there are lots of flowering short hedges
dAnKsFourTheMemes
Privacy from what? You’re uphill from everything on the other side of the fence.
You have a great view and already have Privacy for the most part, unless you’re standing butt-ass naked right along the fence or something.
RM820119
You could go with a living shrub/hedge OR you could just install some shade cloth on the fence, comes in different colors & sizes (e.g. 4ft x 8ft), complete with grommets for easy installation. It’s not 100% blockage, but definitely helps. Personally, I don’t see anyone other than neighbor kids walking up to look into your yard. Maybe I’m missing something?
Financial_Coach4760
No vines. You will regret it. Vines suck. I hate them and you’ll never be able to get rid of them.
stomiidae
Blackberries are my personal favorite privacy weed
girlsquirrelgunit
Miscanthus
King_Phillip_2020
You could opt to have some low trees combined with bushy plants and vines (for overall privacy), and keep one open spot with a bench and views (for when you want the valley views). That’s what I would do… Would try fotinia, maracuja or jasmin bougainville, crotons, bananas
ok_raspberry_jam
There is a **rose** for every occasion.
Ask a *local* garden centre for advice. A locally-owned place will know what kind thrives best in your area.
itchy-balls
Some nice ivy. But it needs just the right elements to grow enough to climb. It’s not as easy to grow as you would think but worth a shot. I have it naturally. It thrives in certain locations but when I try to transplant to another location it never takes.
bws6100
Unless your having a lot of sex outside I’d say that is pretty private
RanglinPangolin
I hear kudzu grows real fast.
Immediate_Shock_1225
Willow wattle. Go look it up.
Charming-Gene-7291
Wine bottles
Southern-Tank4256
I would buy a very large mirror facing down on your neighbors. It will double the sun onto their property so if they tried to look up their eyes would be burned (privacy) and you extended your Mountain View. It’s a win win
Tricky_Caterpillar85
Do you own some ground outside the fence too? I’d plant stuff on the crest of the hill or a little below the crest that would grow up and block the view angle to the neighbors but not obstruct the good view like something on the fence would.
rkotzy
Thanks for all the comments! Super helpful, here’s where my head’s at now.
1. It’s not privacy I’m really seeking, it’s just this fence feels out of place with the view and my thought was staring at greenery would be better.
2. I don’t want to block the view.
3. Researching some of the recommended vines gives me yard maintenance anxiety.
I did some research and found 2’x8′ metal fence panels I could swap out for the 4’x8′ ones I currently have so the fence would be 2′ LOWER. From there I could plant tall grass or attach shade cloth (thanks @[RM820119](/user/RM820119/) ) nobody from below could see up and it would help hide the fence.
GrilledCheeseTn
there are serveral options for an evergreen vine or small hedge, I would look up your garden zone and google what grows best.
when I lived in California, I had carolina jessamine trellised across my backyard. within a few years, my fence looked like a green hedge. And in February, and then again in July, yellow jasmine flowers with bloom with a sweet black licorice fragrance.
anything flowering will attract birds and insects
PvtLeeOwned
I’d vote for neither. But if you’re dead-set then plant a few boxwood. A vine on that fence will make repainting it a total PITA.
Rand_al_Kholin
OP, please try to do something local to your area! Local vines will thrive on a fence like that, but you’ll need to look up what’s local, how they grow, and whether they’re toxic to pets if you have any. Planting local plants is much better for the ecosystem around you than anything invasive, and the plants usually will be healthier long-term.
Personally, I would plant some low shrubs in that area, nothing that will ever get above 3-4 feet tall and that you can let just grow completely wild along the fence line without it looking bad. I haven’t had great success with getting vines to fully cover and obstruct a fence like this.
If you tell me where you’re located (just general, don’t need super specific, if you’re in the US the state would be fine) I may be able to give some more specific advice on plant species to try. No matter what you pick, don’t expect instant results- remember that any shrubs you pick will not reach their full size quickly. In my and my family’s experience when people have told me it takes 2-3 years to reach its full size, it’s more realistically 5-7, unless you’re planting in absolutely perfect conditions for that plant.
Edit: just re-read your post, you’re in socal. I’m on the east coast, but just a couple of resources from googling:
Looking through a few species it doesn’t seem there’s much overlap between where you live and where I do, so I can’t give much more specific advice. Scroll through those, find stuff you think looks pretty, and read up on it to see how well it would fit. With 100′ of fencing I would personally make a sort of “windowed” space for the view which I could see from the house, maybe with a little patio near it so I can enjoy the view, and have taller shrubs and trees along the rest of the line for both privacy and beauty.
50 Comments
None. Enjoy the view.
Asian Jazmine fasho
Why buy a house with views like this just to block them? Make it make sense
With that view, are you out of your mind?
i’d build a wall about half that height and plant some low level bushes. I wouldn’t want to block that much of the view.
Get some tiki party fence made of bamboo reeds and attach it to the back of the iron fence. This will give you a immediate privacy while you wait for your vines to grow. The vines will overtake the bamboo fence and it will just compost in place over the next 5 years or so.
Privacy from what? Bears?
It’s facing downslope of the hill you’re on and every house in front of you is lower and lower, the closest being not eye level at all. Looks steep and awkward for people to be walking up there to chat you up.
Anyways back to the question, Maybe just hang some ice plants from the top and they will hang downward pretty far. Many species of ice plants not all droop and get long tendrils. Two large planter wall boxes side by side with drooping ferns or ice plants would be my route.
We had a nice orange honeysuckle hedge BUT we loved how much larger our yard seemed as well as the view when we removed it. Leave it as is.
Jasmine.
Are you in Yorba Linda, CA….im literally looking at a very similar view rn
Boxwood
It would be criminal to obstruct that view . Privacy from who ?
What are you doing that requires so much privacy ? Seems like any neighbors are far away.
More photos would help
So clearly there’s some prying eyes.
Where are they coming from ? Then we can answer
Get some tall native grasses (where do you live??) that have seed heads that will catch that golden hour light
My recommendation is sit in a chair 10′ from that fence and look again. The houses will be out of view.
You don’t stand right next to the fence when you’re using your yard. That’s just not how yards work.
Sure, Jan
Climbing roses? It take some work up to keep them pruned but could work. We have this growing on a arbor, extra points because it continously blooms and is thornless.https://heirloomroses.com/products/zephirine-drouhin
Privacy from who/what? Looks like your neighbors are below you
Boulders could work
If you destroy that view, so help me I will come out there and rip out whatever monstrosity you put in and then throw you down the very hill that makes this property so special.
Sincerely,
A bottom-of-the-hill asshole with an 8 ft privacy fence.
Blackberry, you’ll have fruits too pick in the summer.
Build a berm. You could grow grass or short shrubs on it.
You are above everyone. No one, is looking up at you!
Grow wine grapes
Wisteria, crossvine
Ornamental passionflower if you don’t mind aggressively cutting it back once it gets fully in place. Grows fast, loves to climb, pretty flowers.
Maybe a native vine to grow on the fence? Then it would block the view of the neighbors but couldn’t grow any taller than the fence itself
Is this the circlejerk page?
I’m assuming you want a hedge only fence high so no one can see if you’re not wearing pants? If so, there are lots of flowering short hedges
Privacy from what? You’re uphill from everything on the other side of the fence.
You have a great view and already have Privacy for the most part, unless you’re standing butt-ass naked right along the fence or something.
You could go with a living shrub/hedge OR you could just install some shade cloth on the fence, comes in different colors & sizes (e.g. 4ft x 8ft), complete with grommets for easy installation. It’s not 100% blockage, but definitely helps. Personally, I don’t see anyone other than neighbor kids walking up to look into your yard. Maybe I’m missing something?
No vines. You will regret it. Vines suck. I hate them and you’ll never be able to get rid of them.
Blackberries are my personal favorite privacy weed
Miscanthus
You could opt to have some low trees combined with bushy plants and vines (for overall privacy), and keep one open spot with a bench and views (for when you want the valley views). That’s what I would do… Would try fotinia, maracuja or jasmin bougainville, crotons, bananas
There is a **rose** for every occasion.
Ask a *local* garden centre for advice. A locally-owned place will know what kind thrives best in your area.
Some nice ivy. But it needs just the right elements to grow enough to climb. It’s not as easy to grow as you would think but worth a shot. I have it naturally. It thrives in certain locations but when I try to transplant to another location it never takes.
Unless your having a lot of sex outside I’d say that is pretty private
I hear kudzu grows real fast.
Willow wattle. Go look it up.
Wine bottles
I would buy a very large mirror facing down on your neighbors. It will double the sun onto their property so if they tried to look up their eyes would be burned (privacy) and you extended your Mountain View. It’s a win win
Do you own some ground outside the fence too? I’d plant stuff on the crest of the hill or a little below the crest that would grow up and block the view angle to the neighbors but not obstruct the good view like something on the fence would.
Thanks for all the comments! Super helpful, here’s where my head’s at now.
1. It’s not privacy I’m really seeking, it’s just this fence feels out of place with the view and my thought was staring at greenery would be better.
2. I don’t want to block the view.
3. Researching some of the recommended vines gives me yard maintenance anxiety.
I did some research and found 2’x8′ metal fence panels I could swap out for the 4’x8′ ones I currently have so the fence would be 2′ LOWER. From there I could plant tall grass or attach shade cloth (thanks @[RM820119](/user/RM820119/) ) nobody from below could see up and it would help hide the fence.
there are serveral options for an evergreen vine or small hedge, I would look up your garden zone and google what grows best.
when I lived in California, I had carolina jessamine trellised across my backyard. within a few years, my fence looked like a green hedge. And in February, and then again in July, yellow jasmine flowers with bloom with a sweet black licorice fragrance.
anything flowering will attract birds and insects
I’d vote for neither. But if you’re dead-set then plant a few boxwood. A vine on that fence will make repainting it a total PITA.
OP, please try to do something local to your area! Local vines will thrive on a fence like that, but you’ll need to look up what’s local, how they grow, and whether they’re toxic to pets if you have any. Planting local plants is much better for the ecosystem around you than anything invasive, and the plants usually will be healthier long-term.
Personally, I would plant some low shrubs in that area, nothing that will ever get above 3-4 feet tall and that you can let just grow completely wild along the fence line without it looking bad. I haven’t had great success with getting vines to fully cover and obstruct a fence like this.
If you tell me where you’re located (just general, don’t need super specific, if you’re in the US the state would be fine) I may be able to give some more specific advice on plant species to try. No matter what you pick, don’t expect instant results- remember that any shrubs you pick will not reach their full size quickly. In my and my family’s experience when people have told me it takes 2-3 years to reach its full size, it’s more realistically 5-7, unless you’re planting in absolutely perfect conditions for that plant.
Edit: just re-read your post, you’re in socal. I’m on the east coast, but just a couple of resources from googling:
https://www.bewaterwise.com/california-native-plants.html
https://waterwisegardeningsb.org/listplants.php?index=8
Looking through a few species it doesn’t seem there’s much overlap between where you live and where I do, so I can’t give much more specific advice. Scroll through those, find stuff you think looks pretty, and read up on it to see how well it would fit. With 100′ of fencing I would personally make a sort of “windowed” space for the view which I could see from the house, maybe with a little patio near it so I can enjoy the view, and have taller shrubs and trees along the rest of the line for both privacy and beauty.