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

I've been clearing my property of brush and saplings and trees and thickets for the past 2 summers, as the previous owners basically let mother Gaea run amok. I'm making some good progress, but my neighbors and I now share a lot of visibility that I'm not particularly keen on.

I'm looking to plant some trees or bushes along the perimeter of my property that restore privacy for everyone. However, I don't want to end up making too much more work for myself down the line. I don't know much about plants, except for how to cut them down and burn them.

I'd prefer some trees over shrubs or bushes, for the height. Leafy year-round would be awesome, though I've ceded that I'm only getting that by going evergreen, which I find kind of plain. Low lateral growth would be preferable, for ease of maintenance. Flowering is a huge plus. Would prefer no fruit or otherwise obnoxious seeds. Moderate height limit would be preferable- I don't know how long we're planning to be here, but it could be a while, and I don't want anything too huge as some will be near utility lines.

I don't expect to check all these boxes with a single miracle plant, but I intend to get a variety anyway to keep things interesting. I thought flowering pears might be nice, or Japanese cherries. I love rhododendrons, but I think they'd take a very long time to grow to the size I'm hoping to get.

I hope I've been descriptive enough to give an idea of what I'm looking for. Any ideas?

• I suppose I should have mentioned I am in southern Maryland