How to Make a Privacy Wall With Planters

Plants provide privacy without the intrusiveness of a wall.

A privacy wall serves as a barrier between you and your neighborhood when you are in your yard. It also creates a screen that discourages others from crossing and can increase the property value of your home. However, installing a permanent privacy wall is not always an option. You can make a privacy wall with planters for a fraction of the cost without installing a permanent structure. The living wall creates attractive greenery, enhancing your landscape’s appeal. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• 10-gallon planters
• Measuring tape
• Tall shrubs or hedges
• Gravel or river rocks
• Shovel (optional)
• Fertilized potting soil

Instructions

1. Measure the length of the area where you wish to install the privacy fence. Divide the length, in inches, by the width of the planters you plan to purchase. The resulting number is roughly how many planters to purchase.

2. Purchase tall shrubs or hedges from your local plant nursery, equal to the number of planters you purchased. A representative can recommend what plants work best for providing privacy in your area. This varies widely by United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones. Ask for instructions on how to transfer them into new pots and how to care for them, as this varies from plant to plant.

3. Pour 2 inches of gravel or river rocks into each planter and position them along the area where you are placing the privacy wall. If the ground is not level, use a shovel to even it out so the planters do not tip over.

4. Fill the planters halfway with fertilized potting soil. Follow the nursery representative’s instructions on transferring the plants to their new containers. The living privacy wall is now in place. Care for the plants per the nursery representative’s instructions and they will fill out, solidifying the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check with local laws to ensure building a privacy wall with planters is not prohibited. Ensure the species you purchase, and the quantity of plants, is allowed per local law.

• Evergreen plants ensure your living privacy wall stays effective year-round. This is typically the best option when available.

References

• Best Backyard Projects; Reader's Digest Association
• Planters, Containers, & Raised Beds; Chuck Crandall and Barbara Crandall
• Wrightscapes: Frank Lloyd Wright's Landscape Designs; Charles E. Aguar and Berdeana Aguar

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish