Have you ever thought when you are out on your deck or patio, “ I would use this space more often if I didn’t feel so naked? Or “I just want to read a book on my patio without having to get into a conversation?”
Front yards are great for chatting with passersby. A little patio spot or comfortable stairs to sit on are great for greeting your neighbors. The backyard, on the other hand, seems more intimate and private.
Foreground screening is the fastest, most effective, and least intrusive way to get a little privacy. This is one of the most common design problems we face and it really does not have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact it might cost considerably less than background screening. It can change your experience of your landscape dramatically!
So how do we achieve a quick screen? Plant close to the area you want to be in. Some plantings will give you screening within 3 to 4 years as opposed to background screening along the property line which can take 8 -15 years. Foreground screening can be accomplished with large shrubs, grasses and small
Scale trees. Some of my favorites are Red and Yellow Twig Dogwoods, Smaller Arbor Vitae such as Emeralds, and Holmstrups. Witchazels also work well as they keep their leaves through the winter. I love to use multi-clump Serviceberries, smaller Crabapples, Pagoda Dogwoods and Magnolias, and woody Hydrangeas work well for late summer through winter interest. The trick is to select plants that do not get too big at maturity, otherwise you could have a situation where the plants become too overpowering for the space.
Foreground screening is cost effective in multiple ways as well. Plants closer to you seem much bigger, and therefore you can get away with fewer plants. Furthermore if your budget is tight; you can purchase smaller plants and wait for them to grow. If you select the right plants, for the location and the soil is well matched to the plants, then the plants will grow quite quickly. So a little patience will be well rewarded!
