How to Landscape to Hide Your Neighbor's Shed

Utility sheds are useful for storing lawn equipment and tools, but can be a nuisance to neighbors.

Multiple landscaping solutions can obscure a neighbor's unslightly shed. Choose methods, plants and landscaping materials according to your climate and the layout of your backyard. Obtain your neighbor's permission if you're attaching a trellis or anything else to the shed wall. Get ideas for obscuring your view of the shed by visiting nurseries and home improvement stores.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Shrubs and trees suitable for growing on a trellis or similar framework
• Trellis, stakes or fencing
• Wooden stakes
• elastic cords (bungee type) or florist's wire
• Shovel
• Nail and hammer or nail gun
• Safety goggles
• Garden soil
• Water source

Instructions

1. Measure the area of the shed wall you want to cover using a retractable tape measure. Buy a trellis or redwood lattice fencing for covering the shed wall. Choose nails strong enough to hold the weight of vining shrubs as well as the trellis or latticework. Attach the trellis or lattice-work fencing to the shed wall facing your yard using a hammer and nails or a nail gun. Measure a garden area next to the shed wall facing your yard.

2. Select plants that can grow up the side of the shed or your fence near the shed. Climbing roses, Wisteria, and clematis are examples of plants capable of covering walls, trellises or latticework. Choose plantings suitable for your climate. Avoid quickly spreading plants that can overtake your neighbor's shed and block access to the shed. Dig a row of holes for the plants next to the shed wall or property line closest to the shed. Place 3 to 6 inches of garden soil in the bottom of each hole and place the plants in the holes. Fill in each hole with garden soil and stake each plant using a wooden stake and elastic cords or florist's wire, if necessary. Water the new plants thoroughly.

3. Fertilize your plants according to care directions. Prune the plants as needed for controlling the plants' growth and spread. Inspect your plants to ensure your plants are not encroaching on your neighbor's property or growing over utility cables. Keep the plants screening your neighbor's shed healthy and free of pests. Screen your view of a shed that isn't located on your property line with a large or "weeping" tree that blocks your line of vision to the shed. Work with a landscape contractor when planning projects using large trees.

Tips & Warnings

• Cooperate with your neighbor to work out problems with his shed or your plants.

• Consult local zoning regulations and verify utility company requirements before excavating for planting large trees.

• Evergreen shrubs are inexpensive and can obscure your neighbor's shed year round.

• Climbing roses and other spreading shrubs can have dangerous thorns. Keep this in mind if children have access to the area where you're planting.

• Verify the location of underground cables and pipes. Certain weeping trees can infiltrate pipes, and excavating can damage underground utility lines.

References

• Wilson Bros Nursery: Plants and Trees for Screens and Buffers
• Jackson& Perkins.com: Tips for Growing Climbing Roses