How to Landscape for a Privacy Patio
- 1). Plant a hedge on the side of the patio that needs privacy. A hedge is comprised of several shrubs planted close together to create a privacy screen. The plants you can use depend on the USDA hardiness zone in which you live, but popular options include boxwood, Japanese barberry, euonymous, privet, arborvitae and viburnum.
- 2). Install a tall fence to surround the border of your property to give you privacy on all sides. Choose a fencing material and color that coordinates with the rest of your landscape.
- 3). Block the view of your patio with a trellis or series of trellises. You can plant climbing vines like Boston ivy, clematis, wisteria or morning glories to provide additional privacy.
- 4). Create a berm, or small hill, and add medium-to-tall plants to create a natural wall, giving the patio privacy. You can bring in clean fill dirt to create the berm; to reduce soil erosion, allow 4 feet of width for every 1 foot of height.
- 5). Screen your patio overhead with the addition of a canopy or pergola. Pergolas don't provide as much coverage as canopies, but you can plant vines to creep along the pergola to create a natural canopy.
- 6). Plant trees around the patio to create a privacy screen from the side view and overhead. Deciduous trees are sufficient if you only use your patio in the summer months, but evergreen trees are best if you need year-round privacy for the patio.
- 7). Set up folding screens for temporary privacy that you can move when needed. You can purchase bi-fold or tri-fold garden screens or recycle old window shutters to serve the same purpose.
- 8). Line the patio with benches and set large potted plants on top to create a privacy screen. You can move the plants if you need additional seating, and you can take the plants indoors for winter.
