By Clayton Ditzler
Privacy is high on a homeowner’s wish list when developing their backyard oasis. This desire goes back to prehistoric origins, when feeling safe was of utmost importance for those who were constantly on alert for odd noises and nearby lurking creatures.
Today, there are many things that contribute to how private a garden feels. Newer homes tend to be placed closer together on shrinking lots, which only increase the visual distractions and unwanted noises in the backyard, while even acreage homes have neighbours, roads and other concerns regarding privacy.
Creating privacy can certainly be a challenge; however, with the right landscape design it is not insurmountable. The effort is worth it because when one feels safe and secure they are apt to be more comfortable as relaxation is at the heart of enjoying a backyard landscape and garden.
How’s the view?
The first step is to explore how the garden will be used and through this process identify the areas of the garden that require privacy. For example, a grassy area where kids might kick a ball around requires much less privacy than an area where the homeowner plans to sunbath.
A site analysis should be performed as part of this step to identify site-specific opportunities, which can be exploited to enhance privacy. Landscape elements and characteristics of neighbouring properties should also be noted, including locations of trees, windows and outdoor spaces. Views from inside the home to neighbouring properties should also be noted. From a privacy perspective, these views are just as important as those from the garden spaces.
Consideration should also be given at this time to any rules, bylaws, building permits or caveats, which may apply to the property. For example, some developments may limit the use of certain types of fencing and/or limit tree planting in some areas to preserve views.
With this in mind, it is always better to make a few inquiries before getting too far along in the design process.
Methods for blocking and enhancing visual lanes
A rough idea of how the garden will develop should start to form at this point, e.g. a dining area here, a spa there and so on. Visual lanes, which will need to be blocked or enhanced, will also start to appear as well as sources of potential noise and other related problems. This is where the utilization of specific techniques or a combination of approaches to enhance privacy becomes important.
Consider elevations first
Elevations can have a great effect on how private a space feels. From a raised deck, for instance, a 1.8-m (6-ft) fence offers very little privacy; however, from ground level this is a different story. In this case, rather than a raised deck, a functional landing can be developed that leads down to a ground-level patio.
Further, changing the grade through terracing is another landscape option worth exploring at this time. This involves changing the grade of the garden through the use of retaining walls or planters, which are commonly made of stone, wood modular block or concrete. A common technique involves cutting back into a sloping grade and retaining it with a wall, thus dividing the garden and providing opportunities for tucking seating areas in next to the retaining wall. This technique creates an area, which not only enhances interest in the garden, but also breaks down the space into a more human scale (i.e. specifically designed with the client’s needs and constraints in mind, making it more useable, desirable and maintainable).
Feeling comfortable and tucked into a space often makes it feel more private. Spas, in particular, often benefit from being sunken or built into the landscape as it enhances the feeling of privacy.
Berming is another landscaping technique to consider. It involves raising the garden with earthen mounds without retaining. However, this technique requires a lot of space in order for it to be executed effectively. The sloping sides of the berm should not exceed a three-to-one slope, so the resulting ‘footprint’ (width of the berm) ends up being approximately nine times the height gained. Berms, if done right, can be used to elevate other landscape elements (e.g. trees) and can be very effective in deflecting sound (e.g. traffic noise).
