Privacy fences are wonderful, but sometimes you really need some good landscaping ideas to keep them from making your yard look too enclosed and too small. The fence itself can become tedious to the eye, even if it’s very beautiful (like one of our Northern White Cedar fences).
Of course, we know that we’re all still staring at snow. But spring comes faster than you think it will, and it’s great to think about how you might spruce up your yard in advance so that you’ll be ready when winter is finally over.
Here are 5 different ways that you can soften up your fence’s look, helping it to blend seamlessly into the overall look and feel of your yard.
Flowering Vines
Vines can really provide a soft, beautiful feel for your yard. Fences provide natural support for them.
If you aren’t working with a boundary fence then you could even plant the flowering vines on either side of the fence. Your home will look welcoming both inside your yard and out.
However, you do need to be careful about the kinds of flowering vines that you choose. Clinging vines, for example, can damage your wooden fence. They are fine for aluminum fences, however.
If you have a wooden fence you’ll want a climbing vine. One nice Wisconsin example would be the William Baffin rose.
Plants Along the Fence Line
Running plants along your fence line is another nice way to soften the look of your fence. There are two types that work well.
Bushes and shrubs are often quite nice. The fence frames the shrubs and the two work together to give your yard a finished look.
Tall flowering plants are also a nice choice. Again, they create a “framing” effect while softening the look of your fence while making your yard appear to have more space.
Add a Focal Feature
Sometimes one really nice visual feature can draw the eye and create interest in a way that works with the fence. Birdbaths, sundials, or garden benches are nice examples.
If you want to get really fancy you could incorporate a small garden pergola to create a little seating area along your fence line. These can be really nice when incorporated with your fence gate.
If your fence isn’t placed right on your property line and you have a lot of space to work with you could even incorporate a gazebo directly into the fence design. This romantic look will transform your back yard from something that is “small and enclosed” to something that is “cozy and light.”
Play Around!
Some landscapers, gardeners, and back yard enthusiasts have had a great deal of success using a piece of software called “Complete Landscape and Garden Designer.” This software allows you to take a picture of your backyard and upload it.
From there you can play around with the look and feel of your back yard, adding and subtracting features to see how they look with your privacy fence. That allows you to try out different looks before you spend a lot of money at the garden store, and is a nice way to ensure that your privacy fence landscaping ideas work well with your yard.
Need some inspiration? We found thousands of privacy fence landscaping ideas at Houzz.com.
A-1 Fence has been installing fences in Shorewood and the rest of the Milwaukee metro area for over 35 years. If you’re just starting to think about adding a fence to your landscaping then give us a call for a free estimate on a fence that will make your yard look and feel great.
