A garden can be a wonderful outdoor sanctuary during the warmer months of summer. If your garden is sited in such a way that it’s easy to see from the street or from overlooking buildings, it can be hard to relax and really get the most from your outdoor space. If you’d like to make your garden into a truly private refuge, you have some excellent options for keeping prying eyes out without making your outdoor space any less aesthetically pleasing. Take a look at our list of outstanding garden privacy solutions.

Garden Privacy Screening

The fastest, simplest way to give sections of your garden added privacy is with screening designed expressly for the purpose. This solution is especially useful in terrace house situations where gardens are divided by wire or low fences. There is a wide range of screening options to choose from; popular materials include willow, bamboo, and synthetics. This screening can be easily attached to existing fences or trellises, turning an exposed garden into an enclosed one.

Hanging Sail Shades

Many people living in built-up areas are more concerned with the neighboring houses towering over their garden when they think about privacy and security. This is, of course, a prime concern in highly urbanized areas where it can feel impossible to sit in your garden without being watched from above.

This problem can be solved by the simple expedient of installing a sail shade or two above your patio. These flexible solutions are easy to install for the summer months and to take down again when they’re no longer needed. They provide both privacy and some welcome shade during the hottest part of the year.

Living Walls

This is a time-honored solution to the privacy problem, and it’s still one of the best. Erect trellis borders around part or all of your garden and encourage plants to climb up them. The result is a beautiful organic barrier that brightens up your garden while also closing off gaps that strangers might be tempted to peep through. This same concept can be extended to provide overhead cover as well if you team a pergola up with your trellises. You can turn a deck, patio, or seating area into a perfectly secluded getaway with a little help from living plants. Ivy and clematis are both excellent vines for this purpose.

Planting for Privacy

You can use tall planters to create effective barriers around your patio. Pick out pots that appeal to you and use them to plant large bushes or trees that will provide plenty of cover. This is another privacy solution that’s been effectively deployed for generations.

If you’d like to extend your fences upwards a bit, fast-growing hedges like evergreen yew or boxwood can help. For an airier barrier that lets in more light, try using bamboo. Clumping varieties are generally better for this job as they have less of a tendency to spread to places you don’t want them.

Sound Isolation

Urban living is generally a positive thing, but sitting in your garden and realizing that you can hear every word spoken in your neighbors’ garden is rather less than ideal. After all, sound travels both ways, and hearing your neighbors means they can hear you too! Build up a psychological buffer zone by adding a little background noise to your garden. Water fountains are excellent for this purpose, providing soothing sounds that mask your own conversation and drown out unwanted noises from beyond your garden.

Hopefully, these tips help you make your own garden a little more peaceful. If you have any other tips along these lines, please do share them with us!