design element Privacy Screenings

What are privacy screenings? They are landscape elements designed to create seclusion, block unwanted views, and define outdoor spaces. Typically using plantings, fencing, or structures, they enhance comfort, security, and visual appeal while integrating naturally into a property.
Layered shrubs and fencing reduce unwanted sightlines, helping define outdoor space while maintaining a natural residential feel.

what is privacy screening

Plant-based screening is one of the most effective and natural ways to create privacy in residential landscapes. For our Boston-area clients, our designers commonly use layered plantings such as arborvitae, American holly, boxwood, yew, and mixed evergreen hedges to establish year-round separation and visual buffering. Deciduous shrubs, ornamental trees, and grasses introduce seasonal change and soften edges, allowing screening to feel integrated rather than imposed.

When planned carefully, planting-based privacy screens provide separation while preserving light, airflow, and long-term plant health, resulting in outdoor spaces that feel balanced, comfortable, and enduring.

common privacy screening questions

1. What is privacy screening in landscape design?
Privacy screening uses plantings, fences, or structures to block unwanted views and create more comfortable outdoor spaces.
2. What plants are best for privacy screening in New England?
Common choices include arborvitae, boxwood, yew, American holly, and mixed evergreen hedges for year-round coverage.
3. Is planting better than fencing for privacy?
Planting often feels more natural and adaptable, while fencing offers immediate screening. Many designs combine both for best results.
4. How long does it take for privacy screening plants to fill in?
Most screening plantings provide partial privacy within 1–2 years, with full coverage developing over time based on species and spacing.
Mixed hedges and trees establish a natural property border that screens distant views while preserving openness and light.

see examples of our work

Formal boxwood hedges define space and provide structured privacy while complementing the geometry of the surrounding landscape.
Precisely clipped hedging delivers clean lines and visual buffering, offering privacy without sacrificing a refined garden aesthetic.
Urban rooftop plantings and vertical screening soften hard edges while blocking neighboring views to create a more secluded outdoor retreat.
A long, continuous hedge creates consistent screening along the property edge, reducing exposure to adjacent homes.
A dense row of arborvitae provides year-round screening from the street, reducing visual exposure and improving backyard comfort.
Evergreen plantings paired with masonry elements enclose this fireplace area, creating privacy and shelter for outdoor gatherings.
Arborvitae screening along the roadway reduces traffic views and noise while creating a calmer, more enclosed yard.
Strategic planting around the pool blocks views from nearby patios, enhancing privacy for swimming and outdoor lounging.
Arborvitae and ornamental trees shield the pool area from neighboring properties, improving comfort and visual separation.
Layered hedging conceals the property from surrounding views, allowing the landscape to feel tucked away and intentional.

the value of privacy

Privacy screenings deliver functional, financial, and lifestyle value by improving comfort, usability, and the overall sense of ease within your property. Strategic screening can contribute to long-term property value by creating spaces that feel sheltered, intentional, and relaxing rather than exposed. Whether achieved through planting, structures, or a combination of both, effective screening supports everyday enjoyment and entertaining while allowing the landscape to mature gracefully over time.

Contact us to speak with one of our designers about privacy options suited to your property. We’d love to share more examples of our work and discuss how a Blade of Grass can design, build, and maintain a custom privacy solution that integrates seamlessly with your home and landscape.
Trees and hedges enclose this play area, creating a safer, more private space for children within the landscape.

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Wayland, MA | Houzz
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Sudbury, MA | Houzz
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Winchester, MA | Google
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Concord, MA | Houzz
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Brookline, MA | Google
“They listened to what we wanted and created an oasis where each month we saw different plants blooming with different colors. Our designer was a joy to work with and she truly taught us about plants and flowers through this experience.”
Jaimin P.
Sudbury, MA | Houzz
“What a great company. The people we work with are responsive, knowledgeable and a delight to work with. They meet with us each year at the beginning of the season to understand our needs and they make sure they meet those needs.”
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Concord, MA | Houzz
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do you need some privacy?

Contact us today to discuss how our award-winning landscape designers, gardeners, installation, and maintenance teams can create a privacy screening solution suited to your property.
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