Is your patio lacking in privacy? It can be tricky to shield your outdoor area from nosy neighbours without creating a closed-off effect. Rather than going overboard with building materials, greenery offers a flexible solution for adding privacy to your patio. You can plant a hedge, install a vertical garden bed or go wild with pot plants – when it comes to creating natural shields, the possibilities are endless.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
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Hedges
You don’t need to be an expert landscaper to grow a hedge from the ground up. Whether you want to block off a small section of your patio or your entire outdoor area, a neatly manicured hedge is the perfect decorative feature for enhancing privacy.
To grow your own hedge, you’ll need the following supplies:
• A suitable hedge plant (Blueberry Ash and Lilly Pilly are both suited to Queensland’s climate)
• Quality garden mix (don’t just use the soil from your garden)
• Mulch
• Compost
• A shovel
• Secateurs
Begin by digging the holes for your hedge. Most hedges should be planted at a depth of around 35cm. Keep in mind that the closer you dig the holes, the faster your hedge will form. After throwing a handful of compost in each hole, you can plant your hedge (be sure to compress the dirt around each plant tightly to prevent air bubbles forming). Sprinkle some mulch on top of each plant and give them a good watering.
Within a few weeks, your hedge should be getting nice and dense. Ask your local nursery how often you should water your hedges, as some plants are thirstier than others.
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Bamboo Screens
Bamboo screens aren’t just an effective privacy enhancer – they can also add an exotic touch to your yard. Hardwearing and weather resistant, bamboo can withstand everything from pouring rain to blazing sunshine. If you want to build a privacy screen that blends in seamlessly with the rest of your yard, the natural colour and texture of bamboo make this plant a versatile option.
You can use wood strips, metal brackets, or even zip ties to attach your bamboo screen to your patio. Just make sure the bamboo has been coated in a waterproof stain before you start building.
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Statement Pot Plants
Looking for a more temporary solution to your lack of privacy? Scatter some large pot plants around your patio to make it feel like a shady sanctuary. If you ever want to open up your space to the outside world, you can simply move the pot plants out of the way.
Vertical gardens can also be used as privacy screens, and require minimal maintenance. Climbing plants tend to grow quite quickly, so you can start enjoying more privacy within weeks of planting your vertical garden.
If you’re not much of a gardener, there are plenty of other ways to shield your patio. To enjoy permanent privacy in your outdoor area, check out Altec’s range of privacy and weather screens.
