Many people want their yard to be a private retreat from the world–but that can be difficult to achieve when there are nosy neighbors, a busy street or unsightly views nearby. Whatever the reason, increased privacy is a major goal of many yard improvement projects.

Fortunately, it’s easy to make your yard more private through a few simple landscaping techniques. If you want more privacy, trees, fences, hedges and other features will all help achieve that effect.

Making Your Yard More Private

As people increasingly view their front and back yards as extensions of their home, it’s not surprising that they also want to make those areas more private. You may live in a high-traffic area and want to screen the view of your yard from the street. Perhaps you’re bothered by noise, or want to mask an unsightly view. Or you may just want to create a private retreat that seems removed from the outside world. Whatever your motivation, it’s possible to add features to your landscape to increase privacy.

You can add privacy to your yard by adding elements such as:

• Arbors
• Berms
• Hedges
• Screens
• Trees
• Trellises.

When landscaping, trees and other plants are one of the best ways to create a clear boundary between your yard and the space beyond it. These “living fences” provide a more natural border and may be easier to install than traditional fencing. However, trees and shrubs may need time to fill out and provide an effective privacy screen. In addition, remember to keep in mind how the plants will look throughout the year. Some shrubs and trees will lose their leaves in the winter, reducing their effectiveness as screens. And as always, make sure to choose plants that will thrive in your landscape–popular choices include evergreens, lilacs, palms and bamboo.

Another popular way to create a boundary between your yard and the outside is installing a privacy fence, though this can be expensive and time-consuming. Landscaping elements such as berms (which are mounds of earth covered with plantings) can also increase privacy and create distinct boundaries.

If you have a small space, a trellis can be a good way to create a sense of privacy. Adding a trellis around a patio, deck or balcony creates natural-looking walls to screen your space from the outside. You can also add a pergola to create a roof and turn the space into a true outdoor room.