Last week, I wrote a post about screening out unwanted views or unsightly neighboring balconies:
Let’s face it, one of the worst parts of living in an urban area is that you probably live near at least one person who thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to leave a sofa out on their balcony. Or if they don’t have a sofa out there, their idea of great outdoor living is sitting in white plastic chairs smoking incessantly and talking loudly with their friends. Who wants that view? I certainly don’t. As I see it, you have two options: screen the eyesore out with a physical object or screen them out with plants.
That post was about using physical objects as a screen, but I also promised that I would write about using plants to screen out neighbors, which is what I intend to do here. To block out your neighbors or an unsightly view, you could…
- Buy the hanging garden planters pictured above. They’re on sale. Or, if you’re handy, you could make your own. Plant with tall-ish bushy annuals or trailing vines, like Ivy.
- You could create a similar effect with less sweat equity by hanging a bunch of pots at different heights and planting them with a variety of bushy and trailing plants. If you have a shady balcony, Fuchsias would look stunning with this kind of set up.
- Plant a long, narrow planter box with bamboo. There are a number of really stunning bamboo. For example, check out this black stemmed variety Eric planted. Place the planter box along the side of your balcony or patio where you’d like more privacy.
- Place a trellis in the location where you want to block the view. In front of it, plant a pretty vine. One idea to try is Black Eyed Susan Vine in the spring and summer and Sweet Peas in the fall and winter. Both with thrive in full sun to partial shade.
- In the comments section of this post, Jane suggests the Chamaedorea Palm as a good plant for shady balconies. I took a look, and I bet a couple of these palms, with their large fronds, would block out a good bit. You could combine them with hanging tropical plants or Ferns to create a lush screen of plants.
I’d love to hear your ideas on this topic. Which plants have you used to add privacy to your small outdoor space?
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What great ideas! We hung a 4×8′ piece of latticework last summer and just let it weather without painting or staining. We hung it primarily to block out some of the hottest sun of the day, but it works very well as a privacy screen. I intended to hang some pots of trailing flowers this summer, but didn’t. Any sort of climbing vine would do the trick as well. You’ve got some great ideas! (I like our neighbors, btw, but there are times I like to sit out in my pjs and enjoy an early morning coffee…this really helps.)
Fern, I am still going with the fish fertilizer hint. It scared away my current neighbours, in fact they are moving. And they won’t talk to me anymore. What did I do?………LOL.
Jen
Nancy–That’s a good point. Sometimes urban and suburban living means that you live right on top of your neighbors. They may be nice people with good taste, but everyone needs a bit of privacy sometimes!
Jen–I still chuckle about the fish emulsion solution. I wonder if your garden’s odor was part of the reason your neighbors decided to hit the road?
I have a deck where I’m committed to growing edible plants and screening out a highway!) I’m going with the trellis idea and will try some of the plants that you suggested next year – wondering if the sweet pea is edible? I’ve seen photos of the brown eyed susan vine and love it, so I may make an exception for that.
I also have an arch/arbor that goes over a bench and is anchored in two containers. I planted grape vines in it, and even a few grapes. The leaves are large, and I think they’ll do a better job hiding views next year. Trumpet vine (inedible) is another one that grows fast and is pretty. Also scarlett runner bean.
I really like your blog – lots of good tips!
jgh–Thanks! I don’t think sweet peas are edible. I think they’re grown for their flowers and wonderful scent. Most vegetables like full sun, so be careful where you place your trellis so as not to shade your veggies.
Particularly like the idea of planting bamboo! I read this with great interest because I’m hoping to turn an old folding screen into a trellis for lots of nasturtium vines on my condo balcony. The goal is actually to provide privacy and shade, since our condo heats up to 95 in the summer easy, and we don’t have air conditioning.
I bet bamboo would fit the bill, too. Glad I have a back-up plan now!
Kate — Sounds like it would do the trick! You might also be interested in this post about making a living screen: http://lifeonthebalcony.com/do-it-yourself-living-privacy-screen/
I want to make a container garden on a relatively small square balcony. There is an eyesore of a house across the way that I would LOVE to block out with some of these ideas! BUT, it’s often REALLY windy. In fact, I had a pot of geraniums at one time that blew right off… ( so lucky that they didn’t hit anything or anyONE to sue me over…) So, do you have any suggestions for windy situations or how I could make sure that a lattice or something would be secured?
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