Landscaping Question (Privacy)

[KyCatFan_rivals45723]

I have a privacy fence going around 2 of the 3 sides of my backyard. The 3rd side has an old rusty looking chain link fence that belongs to the property next door. I spoke to the neighbor about going in half on putting up a privacy fence in place of the chain link but they refused. I don't want to pay for it all and give them the benefit of it as well so I was thinking about doing a much cheaper alternative and going with some kind of privacy shrub or bush.

I'd rather spend a couple hundred doing it this way over probably more than a thousand to do it the privacy fence way. I have a shed in the back corner of that side so I only need to go back about 40' to it. I want it to get at least 8' tall and go all the way down that side of the fence. I'd love it to be colorful, but also would like privacy there year round. I would imagine I am limited to an evergreen. Any suggestions on a fast growing bush or shrub that is great for privacy and will do well in the Louisville area? Preferably one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and doesn't require a ton of maintenance.

 

[P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor]

Hire a bunch of fat dudes to walk around your backyard naked. Neighbor will be willing to pay for his 50%.

 

[UKGrad93]

Go ahead and put the privacy fence on all sides. Your arguing about spliting the cost of one side with the neighbor ~1/6 the total cost. In a few years you can look back and thank me.

 

[jockstrap_mcgee]

Question: do people seriously come on here to ask for advice because they think they'll get actual suggestions?
Or do they just query for suggestions on how to grow 'fast growing bushes' and wait for the fireworks to fly?

 

[Free_Salato_Blue]

 

[theoledog]

It'll cost you more'n $200 ... I don't do landscaping and even I know that...... so your thought premise isn't right...
Listen to what the guy said above... Put the fence up on your own dime be happy... let your neighbor worry about his rusty fence.

 

[dgtatu01]

What you want is a burning bush. They are beautiful during the fall and their branches are so dense they provide cover during the winter too.

 

[mashburned]

OP why don't you just build the fence yourself?

 

[UKserialkiller]

Try that shrub called My Mother's Bush. Fastest growing bush on the planet. And the more you trim it, the thicker it gets

 

[Lexie's Dad]

You won't have to trim a touchin' fence every year. Have someone build the fence at a price of maybe $20 per linear foot and be done with it.

 

[Lightbringer123]

Have Mexico pay for the fence :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

 

[Double Tay]

arborvitae. Fast growing, cheap, Evergreen

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

Instant message @JasonSpear. He is the paddock expert on all things privacy fence related.

 

[bluelifer]

Yeah, you may want to price check what 40' of shrubs will cost before you go much further with that idea. Also, go find a neighbor that has 40' of shrubs and ask them if you can trim it for them to see if you really want to do that a couple times a year for the rest of your life.

Put up the fence and paint dicks on the other side.

 

[DSmith21]

arborvitae. Fast growing, cheap, Evergreen

^^^ This is the correct answer. If you want to save money, you will have to buy ones that are only a few feet tall. In a few years, they will look like this...

 

[KyCatFan_rivals45723]

Yeah I know you don't get as much in terms of height if you go cheaper up front. I saw a shrub when we were getting mulch that was only $5 a piece and says to put them like 5' apart. That would only take like $40 in shrubs to go that distance, but they were only like 2' tall and likely would take a few years to even hide the chain link fence. So if I could find something more like 4' tall and around $25 each it would probably cut a few years off of the growing time to get to the height I want.

I am not too worried about having to trim them. Not nearly as hard on the back as putting the fence up myself. Recovering from one back surgery with another to go in a few months. So putting up the fence myself is out of the question and I would rather save $700+ to go toward other things like medical bills than to pay someone else to do it. That is why I was thinking about using shrubs in place of paying for the privacy fence. I would at least have something to block out the neighbor's yard. I will look up a couple of the non pubic bush suggestions that were offered. Thanks for those suggestions.

 

[JamesIII]

Keep in mind your privacy fence will not work against pervs like BigBlueSean who use drones to spy on little kids. You may want to build a dome instead.

 

[DSmith21]

Keep in mind your privacy fence will not work against pervs like BigBlueSean who use drones to spy on little kids. You may want to build a dome instead.

Or buy an anti-drone system.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

You can build that fence yourself for less than $400.

 

[bluelifer]

Yeah I know you don't get as much in terms of height if you go cheaper up front. I saw a shrub when we were getting mulch that was only $5 a piece and says to put them like 5' apart. That would only take like $40 in shrubs to go that distance, but they were only like 2' tall and likely would take a few years to even hide the chain link fence. So if I could find something more like 4' tall and around $25 each it would probably cut a few years off of the growing time to get to the height I want.

I am not too worried about having to trim them. Not nearly as hard on the back as putting the fence up myself. Recovering from one back surgery with another to go in a few months. So putting up the fence myself is out of the question and I would rather save $700+ to go toward other things like medical bills than to pay someone else to do it. That is why I was thinking about using shrubs in place of paying for the privacy fence. I would at least have something to block out the neighbor's yard. I will look up a couple of the non pubic bush suggestions that were offered. Thanks for those suggestions.

If you have a bad back, that's even more of a reason to go with a fence. A $50 electric sprayer and a few gallons of Thompson's every couple of years will take care of your maintenance.

Just make sure you research what you're getting into with tall shrubs. If they're for privacy, you're probably going to want them to be over 6' tall. You're not going to want to be dragging a ladder down 40' of shrubs to trim them once they get to a desirable height.

 

[UKRob 73]

There are some native grasses that are cheap and tall

 

[slick rick.ksr]

There are some native grasses that are cheap and tall

Where I am there are just a lot of native asses, but they are cheap.

 

[BankerCat12]

Im sure Prince had some type of privacy...ask him

 

[Chuckinden]

Have Mexico pay for the fence :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Ron??

 

[Chuckinden]

Even though chain link fences work well for what they are intended to do, I think they are the ugliest, redneck looking fence out there.

 

[Supreme Lord Z]

Only way to go is cactus. Then wrap barbwire around them and electrify it.

 

[gerald007]

The fence just got 10' taller.

 

[Boydcat]

Yeah I know you don't get as much in terms of height if you go cheaper up front. I saw a shrub when we were getting mulch that was only $5 a piece and says to put them like 5' apart. That would only take like $40 in shrubs to go that distance, but they were only like 2' tall and likely would take a few years to even hide the chain link fence. So if I could find something more like 4' tall and around $25 each it would probably cut a few years off of the growing time to get to the height I want.

I am not too worried about having to trim them. Not nearly as hard on the back as putting the fence up myself. Recovering from one back surgery with another to go in a few months. So putting up the fence myself is out of the question and I would rather save $700+ to go toward other things like medical bills than to pay someone else to do it. That is why I was thinking about using shrubs in place of paying for the privacy fence. I would at least have something to block out the neighbor's yard. I will look up a couple of the non pubic bush suggestions that were offered. Thanks for those suggestions.

Go to lowes and get you some Leyland cypress for 25.00 each.They are about four feet tall and will grow like crazy. Your problem will be solved in no time.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I'm that dude with the rusty chain link that came with the property. F your fancy fence and F you for asking me to pay for it half of it. My dog is secured in the yard. I'm good, pal.

 

[KyCatFan_rivals45723]

My neighbor wants a privacy fence but just doesn't want to pay for it.

 

[Get Buckets]

My neighbor wants a privacy fence but just doesn't want to pay for it.

Go on..