skip to main content

landscape design Design Dilemma

What To Do With The Back Fence

last month

last modified: last month

The pic shows ourbamboo back fense behind the pool. You can see the neighbors house on the other side of the fense. There used to be an overgrown out of control ficus mess along that fence I'm at a complete loss. We want to increase privacy with something that will grow higher then fence; but also want this back fence area to look nice because it kind of frames the pool. Would love any ideas. PS: we're in South Florida

I guess I should have explained this better, The fence is brand new, its carbonized bamboo attached to a 3 foot pre-existing chain link fence. The back yard was bordered on three sides by a huge ficus hedge. At one time it was probably nice but when we purchased 4 years ago it was already old, overgrown, massive and a mess. Money is an issue. We cannot afford an actual wood fence. I have been slowly removing the ficus and now have it gone from two sides, getting ready to do the third side. We are doing all the labor ourselves. We have been thinking a Clusia Hedge is probably what we should do, but I'm having second thoughts, and thinking something like palms, banana plants, etc like Sammie J suggested below.

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

last month

First your fence or the neighbors either way it needs a big cleaning and IMO if you want it to look nice a good 2or 3 coats of a good fence paint then do your planting. Maybe a nice trellis after you apunt and let some vines growthwre you can make the trellis higher than the fence but all plants take time to grow .

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

claire larece
last month
A nice tall tree shrub would give way to privacy and a little landscape
Related Discussions
what can we do to large window gallery
Q
Comments (1)
Exterior? Exterior, other options include adding trim, painting frames a contrasting color, adding a window box, highlighting the window with plantings, etc. Interior, blinds, shades, panels, or some combination. If you narrow down and include a photo, sit back and prepare to be dazzled by Houzzers coming to your rescue.
...See More
Gap between refrigerator and back wall
Q
Comments (10)
Usually when you get side panels you automatically have space on the sides. If you have a full depth cabinet on the top, you automatically have space at the top and in most cases you will have leave at least 1 inch of extra room for the back of the refrigerator, so there is always air circulation since everything is enclosed. In the 70's they use to make a small recessed space behind like Fred said, today you don't have to do that, most Ref have flat backs, recessed wiring, not to mention the supply for ice-maker also comes in a flush mounting kits for the wall... so pretty much everything is recessed and only space you need is for air circulation and 1" is more then enough. In addition, if you make recessed area now and you push ref to far you will never get your doors open so doing all that is a waste of time, in addition most manufacturers starting to make 30" side panels.
...See More
Pushing retaining wall back
Q
Comments (3)
A few suggestions based upon your lower photo, the fourth I guess. a. If you had the wall built, ask the guys that built it to perform your wishes. If it came with the house, call the former owner, whose name is on your deed. b. If the former suggestion is a dead end, let's analyze before we plan. You want to have a space for cooking and dining outdoors. This is such a beautiful yard, it does not deserve a portable BBQ unit exposed when not on fire, so put it in the garage as soon as it is cool. If you are going full hog for a builtin BBQ facility, perhaps it can be built against an existing wall, and just the dining area then needs the increased space. A 6' wide round table, requires about 12-14' for itself and the surrounding chairs and service area. Will you be happy with only a 15' or even a 20' section of wall moved? c. Remove the plants from the area that you plan to usurp, and about 5' beyond, and rent a sod cutter to remove all of the lawn from the vehicle entry point to the lower curved wall, by the palm, and stockpile it in shade, if possible. d. Have the contractor saw a vertical cut in the wall at the points of removal. Measure the distance of the plant bed to back wall. Cut the front bed wall that is to be removed with two sections of that overall bed dimention, so they can be placed as end walls for the two sections of bed that are no longer continuous. e. Have the contractor dig up the wall, and cut the two pieces to remain so they are free of the wall to be dumped. He will remove the existing soil from the bed. Modify any irrigation that exists, and then install the two wall slabs to their new duty locations, attach them to the remaining walls, backfill and replant as required.. f. The next step is to cultivate the compaced earth in the lawn area, rake it and resod. If the dining/BBQ areas are to be a dining terrace, you might wait until the sod is reestablished, say another month, before initiating that construction, as you don't want the sod to remain in a pile for long, or you will have to buy new. If it is to be a flagstone terrace, you can have that material delivered and stockpiled where the bed used to be, while the wall crew is just leaving. Will that fill your need. Give this post to the contractor so he can take measurements, and provide you an estimate overnight. Summer cookouts have already begun. Looks like we will miss the 4th of July bash.
...See More
New build living room too small...what can I do?
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks for the feedback. But I’m wondering if I get rid of the house would it really help with the furniture layout. It will give more room but I’m struggling to see the functional space it will give.
...See More
Sammie J
last month
First, I would power wash your pool deck and also the back fence, and seal the fence (we used to power wash 2x/yr in FL). Then, add landscape material in front of the fence to disguise it a bit and add interest to the yard, adding another section of fence to hide your neighbor's yard. Benefit is improved soundproofing!

FL is such a easy-grow environment, with so many plants that give pretty texture to the yard!
PRO
Beth H. :
last month
you'll need to check w/city code to see how high a backyard fence can be.

have you spoken w/the neighbor about splitting the cost of a new fence? You could do some vinyl panels, cedar planks, or I guess some new bamboo.

do you have a budget?
Jeanne Cardwell
last month
Clusia hedge.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last month
The fence can be a lovely backdrop of you bother to install some landscaping items.
claire larece
last month
My question is what does the entirety of the yard including the house looks like?
Kendrah
last month
It is not just the height of the fence that is the problem. The fence itself is quite easy to see straight through to the neighbors. See what the allowed fence height is. Install a new fence that you cannot see through and is higher than what you have now. Then landscape the area in front of the fence with a layout that has some depth and undulating lines.
splats
Original Author
last month
I guess I should have explained this better, The fence is brand new, its carbonized bamboo attached to a 3 foot pre-existing chain link fence. The back yard was bordered on three sides by a huge ficus hedge. At one time it was probably nice but when we purchased 4 years ago it was already old, overgrown, massive and a mess. Money is an issue. We cannot afford an actual wood fence. I have been slowly removing the ficus and now have it gone from two sides, getting ready to do the third side. We are doing all the labor ourselves. We have been thinking a Clusia Hedge is probably what we should do, but I'm having second thoughts, and thinking something like palms, banana plants, etc like Sammie J suggested above.
K Laurence
last month
Looks like you’ll have to remove whatever is still there ( stumps from previous?). How deep in the planter? What is your budget? I ask because where I live, coastal So Cal, Indian Laurel (columnar Ficus Nitida ) is often used for similar situations. The issue might be the cost … the 5 gal 5’ or 6’ ones run about $60 & more each, even at HD. Perhaps a mixed border planted in stages might be more doable.
ffpalms
last month
I really like Phoenix Palms (aka Pygmy Date palm) because they don’t get too high, so are a great way to screen your yard from view.

Sponsored