Plants add design interest and privacy.
A deck or patio expands your living space during warm weather. But if your deck or patio looks directly onto a neighbor's yard or nearby business, you may not enjoy all the privacy you want. Fences or screens are expensive to install and may be against your homeowner's covenants. Plants offer an inexpensive, portable option for protecting your privacy. Does this Spark an idea?
Choosing Plants
The best plants for screening your deck or patio from prying eyes are tall, cover a lot of area, grow quickly and are easy to maintain. You'll need to choose plants suitable to your climate. For instance, ficus and philodendron will thrive in tropical climates, but grow poorly in areas with cooler nights. English ivy, morning glory and other leafy vines do well in a variety of climates. Decide if you want a permanent screen that provides year-round privacy, or one that shields you from view only in the warm months when you use your deck and patio. Evergreen shrubs and trees offer year-round privacy, while climbing vines and tall annuals work best in summer. Bamboo is a fast-growing, dense plant that transforms into a living wall to block your space from view.
Design
Avoid closing in your patio or deck on all sides. This blocks light and air and detracts from the outdoor feel you want for this space. Usually, you'll only need to provide privacy on one or two sides. Digging flower beds in which you can establish shrubs or small trees -- or plant annual or perennial vines -- is a permanent solution. For vines, you'll want to erect trellises for the climbing plants. You can also purchase large planters and set them on the edges of the deck or patio. Plant small trees or vines in these and move them around as necessary.
Care
Your plants will need plenty of water to thrive. A drip irrigation system makes watering beds or planters easy. Put the system on a timer to deliver moisture on a regular basis without you having to be there. Mulch to control weeds and the right kind of fertilizer also ensure your plants remain healthy. Check the plants regularly for pests and disease and treat before the problem gets out of hand. Trees and shrubs need regular pruning to look their best. If you have a flowering vine or plant, such as roses, trimming off spent blossoms will extend bloom time.
Advantages
Plants add a touch of greenery or colorful blossoms to your outdoor decor. A living privacy screen also provides a home for birds, lizards and other outdoor creatures. You may wish to add bird feeders or houses, wind chimes or other decorations to your garden. Plants can shade hot spots on sunny days. Some vines, such as passion flower, will even perfume the air around your patio or deck. Plants, especially annual vines, which may only require investing in some seeds and string for them to climb on, offer an inexpensive option for protecting your privacy.
Disadvantages
Plants require regular maintenance to look their best. If you live in a dry area with expensive water, maintaining a garden can increase your water bill. If you plant a garden and don't like it, removing the plants can be expensive and a lot of work. Some climates, particular hot desert areas or cold mountainous ones, aren't conducive to growing your own privacy fence.
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