Privacy in the Back Yard

Your front yard is a more public space-in the back yard, privacy is generally a much more important issue. A high fence or tall plants and trees will help to create a private space, and reduce the effects of noise from surrounding neighbors.

Note that if your back yard is not currently fenced and you want to add one, you may need to check local building codes and make sure you know where you property boundaries are, to ensure that you build your fence according to code and within your boundaries.

Choosing Plants

When choosing plants, consider the following factors:

• The height and girth of fully mature trees and shrubs-how much space will these take up once they reach maturity? Trees and shrubs should be planted so that their root systems do not cause disturbances as they grow.
• Space and height are also important considerations when creating back yard 'rooms'. Taller plants can be used to create areas of privacy within the yard and help to create a feeling of having separate spaces that serve different functions.
• Are you choosing plants that are suitable for your climate? In a hot, dry climate choosing drought-resistant plants is crucial, and choosing trees and shrubs that tolerate frost and cold weather is important if you live in an area that experiences very cold winters.
• Choose plants with different textures and interest features in terms of leaf length and shape, light and dark-colored leaves, and the overall shape of the plant. In general, choose a greater number of fine-textured plants and use coarser-textured plants for accents.
• Choose plants that flower at different times to create interest in the yard all year round.

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