Creating a Sense of Privacy

It is not that you necessarily dislike your neighbours; they may well be among your closest friends, it is just that your garden is a place of refuge from the world at large and that sometimes even includes friends. You want it to be private. A garden is a place to sit and read, enjoy a meal or do nothing beyond watch the bees flit from flower to flower.

A garden is also the last place you want to think about what you're wearing. Who gets dressed up to dig around in the dirt? You want to roll out that back door in your grubbiest clothes without a moment's thought to what other people might think if they happened to see you!

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

Creating a sense of privacy can be as simple as surrounding your self with a cocoon of greenery.

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

The problem is that trees and shrubs take years to fill in and mature. Most homeowners end up resorting to a structure or fencing of some kind. 

To keep this back deck area feeling secluded, a set of benches, a planter and an overhanging structure for vines and hanging baskets were added.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

In this garden in the Forest Hill area of Toronto, there was nothing to block the view from the street. A wall of evergreens was planted then a decorative metal screen was added.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Of course, the surest way to make your yard secluded is to add fencing of some kind. Even fencing can have its drawbacks though. Tall fences can be costly and most municipalities have some restrictions on fence height. 

Of course there are always clever ways to get around those height restrictions:

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Good luck trying to peak into this backyard! 

Climbing hydrangea obliterates the low fence, while a solid wall of cedars stretches up toward the home's roof line.

Private Garden, Ward Island

Evergreens are useful for providing year round privacy, but it is actually the summer months that you really care about creating that quiet sense of seclusion. 

The garden above is a nice example making use of a deciduous screening. The trees selected are upright and conceal the view of the patio area without adding dense shade.

Private Garden, Brampton ON

You can also keep the fence tall without making it a solid wall.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

In this example, the backyard slopes gently upward toward the back of the property. The fence has been stepped according to the elevation.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Lush greenery softens the line of fencing.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

At the very back of the yard, an extra height of fencing was added to keep this area around the pond intimate and serene. 

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

Of course no one wants to feel fenced-in just to escape prying eyes. Isn't this a nice way to disguise some of that solid line of fencing?

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

There is even a little pond to mask traffic noises.

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

In this particular property, there was only a chain link fence between neighbours and so a coordinating screen was added along the property line.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

In this final example, a lattice was added in front of the fence and a pergola was then constructed. 

What a nice quiet place to sit and do absolutely nothing at all!