Written by: Bryan Anderson
9 min read
There are many factors that contribute to a beautiful and functional landscape. From stunning curb appeal that greets you like a warm embrace to a thoughtful backyard that facilitates your passion for poolside relaxation, every aspect of your home should be an intentional piece of a cohesive whole.
When it comes to actually immersing yourself in your backyard oasis, whatever your version of paradise might be, privacy is a factor that cannot be overlooked. It’s hard to host intimate get-togethers or bask in the sunshine if you are constantly concerned about nosey neighbors and passersby catching glimpses of your activities.
Thankfully, you can enjoy absolute privacy when you embrace meaningful landscape design in the Capital Region and cities such as Saratoga Springs, Albany, and Clifton Park. It all hinges on the privacy plants you choose and the design choices you make.
How to Create a Private Backyard in Upstate New York
Why Use Plants for Privacy?
Selecting the Right Privacy Plants for Your Home
Best Screening Plants for the Capital Region
Design Tips for Enhanced Landscape Privacy
Landscaping Privacy FAQs
Privacy Plants and Your Capital Region Property
How to Create a Private Backyard in Upstate New York
Like other aspects of landscaping, the approach you take to creating privacy can be unique to you. You can mix and match different elements, choose various privacy screening plants, and craft an aesthetic and environment that suits your preferences and lifestyle needs.
That being said, there are a handful of valuable tips when it comes to landscaping for privacy. We recommend working with a local landscaping company to ensure your backyard dream comes to fruition, and you can also employ the following information to set your property up for success.
Why Use Plants for Privacy?
There are a number of viable ways to make your backyard more private, and all of them are appropriate depending on the time, place, and your personal preferences. However, privacy plants offer some unique benefits that make them the preferred choice among many homeowners and landscape designers.
- Visual and auditory privacy. Privacy screening plants not only obscure your backyard from prying eyes, but can also limit the noise that enters (or exits) your property. Dense, natural foliage is an excellent way to dampen sound, something that fences and other landscaping elements are less effective at.
- Variety. With many types of bushes for privacy to choose from, you can differentiate your property from others, add diversity to your backyard, and keep things visually interesting.
- Protection from the elements. In addition to privacy, hedge plants provide shelter from the wind, creating a more comfortable environment for you to enjoy.
- Seasonal intrigue. A subtle yet meaningful benefit of utilizing natural privacy fences is the beauty that comes with the shifting seasons. From vibrant fall foliage to stunning spring blossoms, each season changes your backyard environment for the better.
- Improved aesthetics. When it comes to natural beauty, it’s hard to top the curb appeal of privacy hedge plants.
- Natural and environmentally friendly. While privacy fences and hardscaping have their places, there is something special about using natural, environmentally-friendly screening plants to create your dream backyard.
Selecting the Right Privacy Plants for Your Home
The advantages of using hedge plants to create privacy for your home are many, but they can only be fully enjoyed by choosing the right plants for the job. There are a handful of key considerations to be aware of when selecting the best plants for privacy, and working with an experienced local professional is a great idea to ensure that all factors are taken into account.
That being said, you can set your property up for success by learning about the following topics and how they influence plant health and backyard privacy.
New York Climate
The primary factor to consider when landscaping for privacy is Upstate New York’s climate. The environment in the Capital Region presents some unique challenges for plants, including the temperature variation between seasons, heavy snowfall, and occasional periods of drought.
Don’t let these climate factors deter you, though. By opting for hardy plants, including those that are native to the region, you can enjoy backyard privacy without excessive maintenance. In fact, the right plants can thrive year-round while providing you with the privacy you crave.
Growth Rate
If you want to see your dream backyard come to life sooner rather than later, fast-growing shrubs for privacy should be on your list. While you can opt for slow-growing plants, they usually come with a higher price tag because they are purchased at a larger size to start. Fast-growing plants, on the other hand, tend to be cheaper upfront while providing privacy after a little bit of patience.
Evergreen vs Deciduous
Choosing between evergreen and deciduous plants for privacy will often come down to personal preference, and it is possible to mix the two to enjoy the benefits of both. Before you decide, however, you should consider the advantages one has over the other.
Evergreens create year-round privacy because they do not drop their leaves (or needles). They also look beautiful no matter what season it is, even in the winter.
On the other hand, deciduous plants shift with the season, adding visual intrigue to your property, allowing winter sunshine to reach your backyard, and providing shade in the summer. They do require more cleanup than evergreens due to their seasonal leaf drop.
Best Screening Plants for the Capital Region
Because there are so many privacy plants to choose from, it can be difficult to navigate through the options and select the right ones for your Capital Region home. Working with a professional with a depth of knowledge regarding the best plants for privacy can unlock the full potential of your backyard, and we highly recommend discussing your vision with a design team you trust.
With that in mind, there are a handful of popular plants that are commonly used in landscaping for privacy. You can’t go wrong with any of the following options, making them an excellent foundation for your home.
- Green Giant Arborvitae. These fast-growing evergreens are very dense, making them ideal hedge bushes.
- Boxwood. Available in several varieties, including short and tall, boxwood is a versatile privacy plant with dense, evergreen foliage.
- Hawthorn. As one of the best privacy hedge plants, hawthorn grows quickly and creates a thick natural privacy fence. It does lose leaves in the colder months, but its dense limbs still provide some privacy.
- Privet. This fast-growing evergreen is one of the top shrubs for privacy thanks to its thick, year-round foliage and willingness to be pruned to complement your landscaping.
- Hydrangea. With large varieties like Panicles, hydrangeas are among the most aesthetic privacy screening plants. They are often layered with evergreen foliage to compensate for their sparse winter appearance.
- Juniper. With dense foliage that can provide privacy in small areas, junipers (particularly Taylor and Spartan) make for excellent evergreen privacy screening plants.
- Maple. While they grow slower than something like Green Giant Arborvitae, certain maples, especially columnar varieties, grow into dense seasonal privacy plants with vibrant fall foliage.
- Spruce. Hardy and fast-growing, these evergreen trees make for dense privacy screens. There are native varieties, such as white spruce, that are resistant to deer.
Design Tips for Enhanced Landscape Privacy
Layering for Visual Intrigue
Landscaping for privacy is not a one-size-fits-all conversation, and it does not hinge on your choosing a singular plant to solve all of your privacy concerns. Layering elements, whether they are all organic or a mixture of plants and hardscaping, can benefit your privacy and add visual intrigue and texture to your property.
Landscape layering typically involves mixing elements of different heights and types to create an appearance of depth. For example, you may layer ornamental grasses, flowering plants, shrubs, and trees to boost textural diversity, seasonal intrigue, and backyard privacy.
Pools and Patios
If you want to sunbathe, swim laps, or sip cocktails in peace, landscaping for privacy around your pool and patio is essential. Much of the strategy here will depend on your tastes and the attributes of your property, with size being the most important factor.
You want to create privacy without inducing claustrophobia or blocking the sunlight. In other words, promoting a feeling of openness while creating a natural privacy fence is the goal. For this reason, narrow privacy plants are most popular.
Trellises and Hardscaping
Vertical elements, such as trellises and fences, have their place in landscape design. While they are less organic than plants, they can be softened and turned into landscape features by adorning them with climbing plants, hedge plants, and other natural elements. Consider options like lattice panels, pergolas, trellises, and mixed-material fences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping Privacy
What are the fastest-growing shrubs for privacy?
Evergreens like Green Giant Arborvitae and Juniper, as well as deciduous plants like Hydrangeas, are among the top options for fast-growing privacy plants.
Should I choose evergreen or deciduous shrubs?
Evergreens and deciduous plants offer different advantages, and your decision will likely come down to personal preference. However, we recommend mixing the two to provide the best of both worlds.
How much space do I need for a hedge row?
The answer to this question depends on the type of privacy plants you use. Thicker privacy hedge plants require spacing up to four feet apart, while narrower rows may need as little as one foot.
Does a privacy hedge require maintenance and upkeep?
All landscaping demands some level of maintenance to look good and remain healthy. Hedges of all types can benefit from watering, pruning, pest control, and other essential landscaping maintenance.
Privacy Plants and Your Capital Region Property
Privacy plants are an integral part of landscape design in the Capital Region and cities such as Saratoga Springs, Albany, and Clifton Park. To ensure that your home receives the privacy you crave while maximizing its curb appeal and functionality, we encourage you to work with a local professional landscaping company like Gallivan.
With over three decades of experience in the Capital Region, our landscape design and installation team has the background and local knowledge to make your dream home a reality. Fill out our consultation form today to discuss your project, talk to an industry expert, and set the stage for the beautiful, private property of your dreams.
