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This is the view from my back deck; if the neighbors are on their deck we can easily talk to each other. While I do like my neighbors, I also like my privacy. I don’t have any other concerns about privacy besides this area.
My solution needs to be 6-8’ wide, and extend about 2’ above the top of the fence (6’ fence). I was thinking of putting 2’ tall lattice on the top of the fence then plant a vining plant at the base of the fence and train it up to fill in the lattice… but that might take a while and I want privacy this summer! Arborvitae would be practical here, but neither my husband or I like the look of it.
Ideally I want a plant that’s an evergreen for privacy in summer as well as winter. But I’m stumped. Not sure what to do… any ideas are welcome! The more the merrier! Please help. lol zone 8B Portland, OR metro area
Our neighbor is great but they have lots of friends and family over constantly during pool season, making our back deck awkward to use. What can I plant that could obscure the view? I like the idea of some smaller trees, maybe arborvitae (I don't love them) or even some really tall grasses.
On the assumption your measurements are in mm, not cm (300 cm is 3 metres and no container would be that wide), that would make your pot (in feet and inches) about two and a half feet deep by roughly a foot across, or 80 cm deep by 30 cm wide. The tree you've mentioned will grow in it for a while, but inevitably, over time, its growth will be very much constrained by the lack of root space, so although its impossible to say what height and spread it might reach, its safe to say it definitely won't reach 3m in height. After a while, it may start to look rather sick - most large plants are okay in largeish pots for up to 3, possibly 4 years, but after that, they start to look 'thin' and weak.
Any plant that can be expected to reach 3m won't do so in a pot, I'm afraid. Since your intention is to create something that blocks the view from a window above, have you considered some kind of small pergola, single or double row, with a pot either end of the size (but preferably larger) you mention, with perhaps a climbing plant in each, which, if the pergola is only 6 feet tall and a foot or two across at the top, might mean you could get some of the growth across the top? That would block the upstairs view of the area beneath, even though its not high enough to block their window. Or a shade sail similar to this https://www.primrose.co.uk/sail-shades-c-85.html which would have the same effect, though the effectiveness of these alternate solutions rather depends whether the neighbour's window is opposite your home, to the side, or directly above you.
My answer to this is classic potted Bamboo. Its the perfect screen, grows tall with a cool contemporary, beautiful aesthetic. I am a native New Zealander born and bred with no Asian bias to bamboo. If you could plant the bamboo in the earth I would recommend the bamboo species with the root system that clumps together and does not spread.