I have a 6ft privacy fence, but my yard also has a steep swale / slope away from the home. So when I'm right by the fence, plenty of privacy, but when I'm even 6 ft from my fence I can see my neighbor's home very easily. Any ideas for changes?

Ordinance is 6 ft maximum.

could you post some pictures?

I wouldn't be opposed to adding if it's the only real option.

Bamboo will grow 25-30 ft tall.

Crape Myrtles might do the trick. Or you might add a 2-foot lattice section on top of your fence. These usually look nice and provide a screen but not total block.

wmitchell said:

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lb3 said:

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Bamboo will grow 25-30 ft tall.

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Get the right type that is cluster not shooting if you do this.

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Even the clumping type will require some sort of barrier to keep from overtaking the yard. Typically a row of paving stones is sufficient for clumping bamboos. The type that puts out shoots needs a vertical root barrier up to about 36 inches.

lb3 said:

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wmitchell said:

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lb3 said:

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Bamboo will grow 25-30 ft tall.

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Get the right type that is cluster not shooting if you do this.

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Even the clumping type will require some sort of barrier to keep from overtaking the yard. Typically a row of paving stones is sufficient for clumping bamboos. The type that puts out shoots needs a vertical root barrier up to about 36 inches.

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Yes - thanks for the extra info. My neighbors put in shooting and it SUCKS. Huge backyard so building the barrier between me and them would be very difficult.

What if I put the cluster bamboo trees in big planter boxes along the fence?

Where are you located? Hannah ray bottle brush will hit 10-12 ft fast but is frost sensitive. Vitex is a great option but defoliates in the winter. Grows super fast but between December and march 1st it will be sticks. Oleander is a great option but slower growing. There are some varieties that hit twelve feet but it will take a little longer than the other two previously mentioned. Evergreen for the most part. You couldn't pay me to put bamboo in my yard. Something I did in my own yard was sink a few 12ft 4x4 and attached hog panel to them. I grew Texas crossvine on them. They are evergreen even in freezes. It will make a green wall for you. I got tired of my neighbor's RV so I put it up and in two years it was covered. Get a bundle of 4-6 inch plants and it will go.

I also vote for the tall evergreens
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Aggieland: our privet is all volunteer, no maintenance, perfect screen in poor soils and tap water.

Got any photos of the Crossvine in the panels? I've been thinking about doing something very similar since I have limited space to grow something along a fence. Have also heard it can do fine in shadier spots but just may not bloom as much.

We moved into our house 2 years ago. Backyard neighbors are on a hill above us so we had similar issues

We did ask the HOA for a 2 ft extension and they allowed it

However that by itself wasn't enough

I planted eagleston Holly's and they are coming in nicely and will ultimately solve the problem by themselves

However in the meantime we did as you mentioned. We added clumping bamboo in large pots (I just made wood boxes). I placed those about 12 feet from the fence and they work great as the Holly's come in.

Problem with bamboo longterm is a deep freeze will kill them. Last year I was able to move them during a deep freeze closer to the house and put them all together and wrapped them. It was a pain though and prob won't do it again. By this time the Holly's have come in enough that I probably don't need the bamboo as much as I did

(Typed from phone so pardon typos… don't feel like proofreading ; )

As always, a location is needed for proper landscape recommendations! (And I don't mean "by the fence")

BrazosBull said:

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Haul in fill dirt and level your yard, then add new 6' fence. That is about the only solution other than shrubs

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Or he could excavate his yard a couple of feet lower.

NoahAg said:

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BrazosBull said:

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Haul in fill dirt and level your yard, then add new 6' fence. That is about the only solution other than shrubs

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Or he could excavate his yard a couple of feet lower.

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Always take the high ground