Top 14 'Living-Curtain' Privacy Planting Tips to try in small spaces for screening out neighbors this summer - Goh Ling Yong
The sun is finally gracing us with its presence, and that little balcony, patio, or postage-stamp-sized yard is calling your name. You picture it: a morning coffee, an evening glass of wine, a good book in the afternoon sun. But then, you catch a glimpse of your neighbor through the railing, and the feeling of being in a fishbowl creeps in. Suddenly, your private oasis feels more like a public stage.
We've all been there. In our increasingly dense urban and suburban landscapes, true privacy can feel like a luxury. But what if you could create a lush, living barrier that not only shields you from prying eyes but also adds beauty, texture, and life to your space? Forget clunky screens or expensive fences. This summer, we're talking about creating a 'living curtain'—a tapestry of carefully chosen plants designed to give you the seclusion you crave.
Whether you have a tiny balcony or a compact courtyard, these living curtain solutions are for you. They focus on maximizing vertical space, choosing the right plants, and using clever container strategies to build a green sanctuary. As Goh Ling Yong often says, your garden should be your sanctuary, not a stage. Let's dive into 14 practical tips to help you plant your way to privacy.
1. Go Vertical with Trellises and Vines
The fastest way to create a screen in a small space is to go up! A trellis is a simple, space-saving framework that allows climbing plants to create a dense, leafy wall. It's a classic for a reason: it provides structure and support, turning a blank wall or an open railing into a vertical garden.
Think of a trellis not just as a plant support, but as the architectural backbone of your privacy screen. You can find them in wood, metal, or even expandable plastic versions. Secure one to a wall, zip-tie it to a balcony railing, or place it inside a large rectangular planter. The key is to give your chosen vine something to grab onto so it can begin its journey skyward.
For a quick, lush screen, choose fast-growing vines. Perennials like Clematis 'Jackmanii' (deep purple) or Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) offer beautiful, fragrant blooms and can provide dense coverage. For an even quicker fix this summer, annuals like Morning Glory or Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) will scramble up a trellis in a matter of weeks, giving you almost instant privacy.
2. Think "Skinny": Columnar Plants are Your Best Friend
When floor space is at a premium, you need to think like a city planner: build tall and slender. Columnar plants are genetically programmed to grow upwards rather than outwards, making them the perfect soldiers for a privacy patrol in tight quarters. They provide a strong vertical element without devouring your precious seating area.
These plants act like living exclamation points, drawing the eye upward and forming a very effective visual barrier. Plant a row of three or five in matching containers for a formal, elegant look, or use a single one to block a specific, awkward sightline—like a neighbor's kitchen window.
Look for varieties like 'Sky Pencil' Holly (Ilex crenata), which is a classic for a reason with its narrow, dark green form. For a softer look, consider 'Degroot's Spire' Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) or the very slender Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), if your climate allows. These evergreens have the added bonus of providing year-round screening.
3. Use Raised Planters for an Instant Height Boost
Want a head start on your privacy? Don't just plant at ground level—give your plants a lift! Raised planters and tall, trough-style containers immediately elevate the base of your plants, meaning you need less plant height to achieve your desired screening level. A plant that grows to four feet tall in a two-foot-high planter gives you a six-foot screen instantly.
This technique is a game-changer for patios and rooftop gardens where you can't dig into the ground. It also offers better drainage and allows you to control the soil quality completely. Look for sleek, modern metal or composite planters that are at least 18-24 inches tall to get a meaningful height advantage.
This is the perfect strategy for planting ornamental grasses or mid-sized shrubs. The elevated position puts the densest part of the foliage right at eye level, which is exactly where you need the screening to be when you're sitting down and trying to relax.
4. Embrace the Power of Ornamental Grasses
For a softer, more dynamic screen, nothing beats ornamental grasses. Unlike a solid hedge, grasses move and sway in the breeze, creating a gentle, rustling sound that adds an extra layer of sensory tranquility. They filter views rather than completely blocking them, which can make a small space feel less boxed-in.
The key is to choose clumping grasses, not running ones, which can be invasive. Clumping varieties grow in a tidy, fountain-like shape and won't try to take over your entire container (or your neighbor's!). Their feathery plumes add texture and visual interest, often lasting well into the winter.
Varieties like 'Karl Foerster' Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) are famous for their upright, narrow habit. For something a bit shorter and more arching, consider Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'). Plant a row of them in a long planter, and by mid-summer, you'll have a beautiful, living screen that dances in the wind.
5. Create a "Hedge in a Box"
The classic, manicured hedge isn't just for sprawling estates. You can create the same elegant, seamless effect on a balcony or patio by using long, narrow trough planters. Planting several of the same shrub in a line within one of these containers creates the illusion of a continuous, built-in hedge.
This method provides a clean, modern, and very effective privacy barrier. The planter itself defines the space, acting like a low wall, while the plants grow together to form a solid green screen above it. It's a much more polished look than using a collection of mismatched round pots.
Good plant choices for a container hedge include Boxwood (Buxus) for a classic, formal look, or Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) for something a bit glossier and faster-growing. For a flowering option, consider compact varieties of Escallonia. Just be sure to choose a planter that is deep and wide enough to support the root systems of multiple shrubs.
6. Layer Your Plants for Visual Density
A single row of identical plants can sometimes look a bit flat or artificial. For a truly lush and impenetrable screen, borrow a technique from professional landscape design: layering. This involves placing taller plants at the back and shorter, fuller plants in front of them to create depth and density.
This multi-layered approach is more visually interesting and much better at blocking views. The combination of different heights, textures, and leaf shapes creates a rich tapestry that fools the eye into seeing a much deeper, more established garden. It’s the difference between a simple curtain and a full set of drapes with sheers.
In a large container or a series of clustered pots, you could place a tall, columnar evergreen at the back. In front of it, plant a mid-sized, bushy shrub. Finally, at the very front, let a trailing plant like ivy or sweet potato vine spill over the edge. This three-layer system blocks views at high, medium, and low levels, ensuring complete privacy.
7. Choose Clumping Bamboo (Wisely!)
The word "bamboo" can strike fear into the hearts of gardeners, who imagine it cracking through concrete and staging a hostile takeover of their yard. But that's "running" bamboo. "Clumping" bamboo is its well-behaved cousin, and it is one of the absolute best plants for creating fast, tall, and elegant privacy screens in containers.
Clumping bamboo, as the name suggests, grows in a tight, contained clump, expanding outwards very slowly from the center. It won't send aggressive underground runners everywhere. It provides a tropical, zen-like feel, and its canes and leaves create a dense but airy screen. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we always advise checking the plant tag for the genus Fargesia, which is a reliable and non-invasive clumping type.
Fargesia rufa 'Green Panda' is a fantastic choice for containers as it's hardy and has a graceful, arching habit. A row of three tall planters, each with a healthy clumping bamboo, can create a 10-foot-tall screen on a patio in just a couple of seasons. It's one of the fastest ways to achieve significant height.
8. Hang 'Em High with Hanging Baskets
Don't just think about screening at eye level. Sometimes the most intrusive views come from a neighbor's second-story window looking down onto your space. This is where hanging baskets can be your secret weapon. Strategically placed, they can block downward sightlines beautifully.
Instead of standard flowers, fill your hanging baskets with lush, trailing foliage plants. Think English Ivy, Pothos (in shade), or trailing Petunias and Calibrachoa for a blast of color. The goal is to create a full, weeping "curtain" of green that dangles down from above.
Hang a series of baskets from the edge of a pergola, an awning, or a sturdy overhead beam. This draws the eye upward, adds a wonderful sense of enclosure, and effectively creates a "roof" of foliage that makes it much harder for anyone above to see into your seating area.
9. Leverage Fast-Growing Annual Vines
Need privacy this summer? Like, right now? Annual vines are your answer. While evergreen shrubs and perennials take time to establish, annuals are sprinters. They are genetically programmed to complete their entire life cycle—from seed to flower to seed—in a single season, which means they grow at an astonishing rate.
This is the ultimate solution for temporary or rented spaces, or for anyone who needs a quick fix while their slower-growing plants fill in. All you need is a container, some soil, a simple trellis or string support system, and a packet of seeds or a few starter plants.
Classics like Morning Glory and Moonflower will cover a trellis in a delicate tracery of leaves and trumpet-shaped blooms. For something more substantial, try Hyacinth Bean Vine, with its purple stems and striking pods, or Spanish Flag (Ipomoea lobata), which produces fascinating multi-colored flower spikes. They will give you a dense, beautiful, and temporary screen for the season.
10. Select Evergreens for Year-Round Privacy
Summer privacy is great, but what about the other nine months of the year? If you want your living curtain to work for you 365 days a year, you need to incorporate evergreens. These plants keep their foliage through the winter, ensuring your patio doesn't suddenly become a fishbowl again once autumn arrives.
Many people think of evergreens as giant forest trees, but there are countless compact and dwarf varieties that are perfectly suited for container life. They provide structure, color, and texture in the bleakest months, acting as the permanent "bones" of your privacy garden.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce, 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae, and various types of Yew (Taxus) and Juniper are excellent choices. They can be pruned to maintain a specific size and shape. Mix them in with your grasses and flowering perennials for a screen that has both permanent structure and seasonal interest.
11. Don't Underestimate a Single, Stunning Specimen
Sometimes, you don't need a full wall of green. If your privacy issue is one specific, annoying line of sight—like the direct view from your neighbor's deck to your dining table—a single, well-placed plant can solve the problem with surgical precision.
This is where a specimen plant comes in. This is a plant with a strong, interesting shape that can stand on its own as a focal point. Think of a small tree or a large, architectural shrub in a substantial pot. By placing this one feature plant strategically, you can block the view completely while adding a major style statement to your space.
A Japanese Maple in a beautiful ceramic pot can be a perfect choice, with its delicate leaves and sculptural branches. A standard (tree-form) Hydrangea or Lilac can also work wonders, positioning a dense ball of foliage and flowers right where you need it. The key is to sit in your chair, identify the exact sightline you want to block, and then place the pot right in that path.
12. Incorporate Edible Screens
Why not have your privacy and eat it too? An edible screen is a fantastic, multi-tasking solution for small spaces. It combines the functionality of a visual barrier with the reward of a fresh, homegrown harvest. This approach is particularly satisfying and makes every square inch of your garden work for you.
Trellises are perfect for this. Instead of ornamental vines, grow climbing vegetables. Pole beans and scarlet runner beans are incredibly fast growers, quickly forming a dense wall of leaves dotted with flowers and, later, tasty beans. Cucumbers will happily scramble up a trellis, and certain varieties of squash or even small melons can be trained upwards with proper support.
You can also create a "hedge" out of herbs. A row of tall Rosemary or Bronze Fennel plants in a trough planter can create a wonderfully fragrant and effective screen. It's a feast for the senses that also keeps your patio conversations private.
13. Mind the Pot: Bigger is Better
This might be the most important tip of all. The biggest mistake people make when creating container-based privacy screens is using pots that are too small. A large plant needs a large root system to support it, and a tiny pot will lead to a stunted, stressed, and unhealthy plant that never reaches its screening potential.
When it comes to containers for privacy plants, always go bigger than you think you need. A larger volume of soil holds more water and nutrients, meaning less frequent watering for you and a happier home for your plant's roots. It also provides a stable, heavy base that will prevent your tall "living curtain" from toppling over in a strong wind.
As a general rule, for a shrub or small tree intended for screening, look for a container that is at least 20-24 inches in both diameter and height. For a long trough planter to be used as a hedge, ensure it's at least 18 inches deep and wide. Investing in large, high-quality containers is investing in the success of your privacy screen.
14. Strategic Placement Trumps All
Finally, remember to be strategic. Before you buy a single plant, go outside and sit in the spaces you use most often. Where do you feel most exposed? From which direction are the prying eyes? You probably don't need to build a fortress around your entire perimeter.
Often, all you need is one or two "vignettes" of plants placed in exactly the right spots. A tall planter with bamboo might be all that's needed to block the view from the driveway. A trellis with a flowering vine at the corner of your deck could be enough to obscure the sightline from the house next door.
By identifying the specific problem areas, you can use fewer plants more effectively. This saves you money, effort, and precious space. It's about creating pockets of seclusion, not a wall of isolation. This thoughtful placement is the final, crucial step in transforming your space into the private, green sanctuary you deserve.
Creating a living curtain is one of the most rewarding garden projects you can undertake. It's a dynamic, beautiful solution that grows and changes with the seasons, offering not just privacy but also a connection to nature. With the right plants and a little bit of strategic thinking, you can block out the world and cultivate your very own private paradise this summer.
So, which tip are you most excited to try? Do you have a favorite fast-growing privacy plant that we missed? Share your thoughts and your own living curtain successes in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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