Today I have plenty of living fence ideas for those of us with backyard privacy issues. A living fence is a type of fence made of living plants or trees. Believe it or not, a living fence has the potential to provide more privacy than a regular fence!
Living Fence Ideas
Evergreen trees are one of the best trees for a living fence. For starters, the fullness of the trees provides great privacy. And evergreens block a lot of those harsh winter winds. These plants grow up to three feet per year, so it doesn’t take long to achieve the privacy you want!
For problems with pests and critters, a cactus fence may be perfect. Cactus is like a natural form of barbed wire. Cactus plants are the preferred method of fencing in the Caribbean.
Not only does Lilac smell terrific, but it is a great plant to fence with. There are several colors available, and it grows quickly. And as an added bonus, these plants still thrive during the winter!
Although Boxwood does grow very slowly, once it matures, it forms a great natural barrier in your front or back yard. The best part is you can prune boxwood into intricate shapes!
Weeping Willows grow quickly and stand up to very cold weather. These trees are also extremely supple, so you can shape them to form the living fence of your dreams!
Burning Bush is known for its gorgeous red color in the fall. This shrub has small fruits that attract birds, so it’s the ideal of living fence ideas for the bird watchers out there.
Believe it or not, bamboo makes a beautiful living fence. It is one of the fastest growing plants out there, and is super low maintenance. Just be careful to choose your variety carefully–some are quite invasive.
More Ideas for a Living Fence
Junipers are perfect foliage for fences. They grow berries and have a delicious scent. Unfortunately, Juniper develops dead spots if it is over-pruned. Here is a tutorial to help you avoid dead spots in your Juniper fence.
Yellow forsythia blooms are part of an eleven-species family, all of which have flexible branches and gorgeous green leaves. It is important to consider the height you want, because forsythia can grow up to nine feet tall.
Holly isn’t just for Christmas! This is another plant belonging to the Evergreen family. Holly bushes produce pretty berries and thrive in any climate zone, including the tropics.
Laurel is great for more than just a house plant–it also makes a great natural barrier. One of the most durable plants out there, this plant thrives in areas with air pollution.
Privets are one of the most dense plants, which creates privacy that an ordinary fence cannot match. Like Juniper and Boxwood, this plant prunes well into any desired shape.
Italian Cypress, while not dense, does grow in tall columns up to 70 feet high!
Hicksii Yew is another plant like the Juniper. This shrub is famous for its green needles. It is important to remember that the needles may turn brown with a lot of exposure to cold winter winds.
The Nigra Arbovitae is a lush tree that grows in the shape of a pyramid. It reaches up to 30 feet tall, so this is a great plant to consider for a live fence.
Thank you for sharing these cool ideas! Really loved a living fence made of Boxwood!