Buffer Zone Privacy Planting

Rather than a rigid wall of trees or a hedge, planting buffers offer screening of different plants set at varying depths for more gardenesque appeal.

Buffer zone planting is an attractive solution because it doesn't sacrifice foundation planting for screening. Foundation planters are designed along a fence line to separate it from the lawn for easier maintenance. The buffer zone is simply a wider fence line foundation planting that positions large trees and shrubs in a way that interrupts the view with foliage masses at various depths in the field. The irregular composition is far more gardenesque, foiling the rectangular shape of a yard rather than emphasizing it as with a tree row. The buffer also allows for greater diversity in the planting for color combinations or various orchard trees.

Tradeoffs: Due to the depths of the planting area, you might find some gaps in the screening from some vantage points in the yard. It's important to position all plants exactly to ensure they do their job.

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Video: Yard Screening