Trees of tranquility
Trees play an important role in creating a private garden and because of their size they are some of the most significant.
For example, deciduous trees—those that drop their leaves in the fall—provide three seasons of privacy, which is often enough for outdoor spaces that are not typically used in the winter. On the other hand, evergreen trees provide four seasons of coverage and are very effective at blocking unwanted views from the residence.
Visual lanes tend to be bigger on larger properties and trees are the most effective way to eliminate them. Trees grow over time, so if budget is a concern, smaller trees can be planted, which will eventually provide the coverage and affect the homeowner desires.
On larger properties, where tree options are often not restricted, Colorado spruce (Picea pungenus) are popular because of their dense growth habit, comprising evergreen needles in green and/or blue-green hues. On smaller properties, many cultivars of the Colorado spruce, such as the Columnar Blue Spruce (Picea pungens ‘Fastigiata’), thanks to its narrow columnar form, are typically considered.
When electing to use deciduous trees on smaller properties, the Swedish Aspen (Populus tremula ‘Erecta’) or its cousin, Tower Poplar (Populus x canescens ‘Tower’), are very useful as they have a columnar form and grow quickly to create a dense screen. They also tend to have a dense branching habit, resulting in a reasonable amount of screening, even in the winter.
Shrubs of sanctuary
Depending on the requirement, many shrubs can also provide effective privacy screens—either in a mixed border or as part of a hedge.
Traditional clipped hedges are suitable in some situations but tend to be labour intensive and often too formal for many garden styles. Informal hedges, which are not clipped, are also effective if there is enough room, as these plants must be allowed to achieve their mature size.
Depending on the area’s climatic conditions, upright evergreen shrubs, such as juniper or cedar, can provide quite an effective privacy screen. In some situations, even grasses such as Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’), which grows to approximately 1.5 m (5 ft) can create an effective privacy screen.
Verdant vines
Vines are an important plant for privacy because they provide a softening effect to the hardscape and can be trained to grow up fences, screens and other structures.
One popular vine used to create privacy in landscaping is Hops (Humulus lupulus), which is a very hardy vine that grows quickly from the ground each season. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is another favourite as it will take a full sun to partial shade and its woody structure gets more established with each successive season, often becoming quite architectural in nature.
By employing these concepts, landscape designers are limited only by their imagination when creating a garden and enhancing its privacy.
Clayton Ditzler is a certified landscape designer (CLD) with The Landscape Artist Inc., in Calgary. He has over 20 years of experience designing residential landscapes. He may be reached at clayton@landartist.com or by visiting www.landartist.com.
