Our neighbors house sits higher than ours. And there is a pretty steep hill on the easement/property line.
Last year we attempted to make a natural barrier with zebra grasses and native plants. We were going to expand it because it looked nice and was working.
However, I’m fairly certain that our neighbors killed our plants (or whoever sprayed their yard for lawn care didn’t watch the property line + potential water run off issue). Nothing is coming back this year.
What should we do? I want privacy. I’m afraid to invest more in plants in case this happens again. A wooden fence would be very $$$.
I am so upset about the time and money that has been wasted and now feel like we have very few options.
by Obvious-Debate2826
12 Comments
Fence with video cameras
Anything you do is going to cost money that is a large area. Alternatively are there only certain areas in your yard you care about privacy, like your deck. Plant some bushes or trees closer that block that angle off.
Figure out what those trees are back there and plant a row of them.
I’d do a fence and suck it up because that’s the kind of home you purchased and a fence should be factored into that. Ground plants between two large properties look pretty awful. Trees will block that view.
The other option is to take your focus off the property line and move it inward. Put in a nice curved bed in the open area where the grass levels off. Have it go deep enough into the back that you create the privacy you want. A long curved narrow island. You could also berm it up to give the new bed some instant height. Then plant a few slower growing trees, in between you use more temporary things like the grasses now.
Maybe you could just do 5 fence panels only to block the view ,not the entire length of your property
Put a 24/7 camera with recorded footage on that view. And plant green giant arborvitae in a staggered hedge. [Guidance here.](https://www.plantingtree.com/blogs/gardening/thuja-green-giant-privacy-screen)
56 Cypress trees oughta do it
Have you thought about a couple cypress?
What about planting trees and shrubs that are native to your area. Do different ones with a variety of heights so that way if something dies it’s not as obvious when replaced. Don’t plant them all in a straight line. You want it staggered so that the taller trees are closer to the property line. smaller shrubs closer to you. Also be careful to take trunk size into consideration. You don’t want the trunk of any tree growing over the property line.
Did you talk to your neighbor?
Don’t plant a wall of the same thing like green giants, use a mixed border to look more natural and easier to fix if one dies. Strategically place the bigger privacy trees in the most critical spots. if you have the space stager things a bit to give it dimension. Will the area at the back of your lot get developed eventually? You might consider getting a head start if so, you could plant just cheep 1 gallon plants there and give em time.