Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/267037
W hen you need to make a space more private, fences are the obvious answer. But they're not always ideal solutions. "Fences and even living fences such as a box- wood hedge will camoufl age a view, but they can feel confi ning," says J'Nell Bryson, a landscape architect based in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Some- times, they actually draw attention to what you want to screen." Instead of trying to hide unattractive sights, proper plant selection and placement can beautify the landscape and create privacy at the same time. Follow these eight pointers for the most effective screening techniques with plants. Educate yourself. Develop a relationship with local nursery specialists, and spend time learning about new plants or plant combinations that work for screening. Ask questions such as what plants have performed (or struggled) in recent years. Talk to the local university extension services experts, and do some homework online. A good place to start is e-answers.adec.edu, a searchable library of university extension services materials. Communicate with your client. "Understand your client's aesthetic," says Dean Hill, ASLA, direc- tor of sustainability at Greenscreen, which produc- es 3-D, welded wire trellising systems. Discuss whether they prefer a natural or more manicured look, how much they're willing to invest in maintenance and how quickly they can expect plants to fi ll in and provide screening. "You want your client to be informed so there are no surprises. Satisfi ed clients are more likely to call you back for future projects," Hill says. Research the project. Walk the property, and use your own eyes and ears to study exactly what your client wants to screen. A commercial property wall? Street noise? The driveway where the guy next door comes out to get the paper in his paja- mas? Once you have a sense of how much coverage is needed, you can create a unique plan of action. "There's no template for this kind of project," Hill says. "You've got to use your creativity and experi- ence on a project by project basis." Think beyond one species. Resist the urge to install a line of plant material consisting of a single species. That's not what you see in nature, and in- dividual plants don't always grow at the same rate, cover story 2 4 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m M A R C H 2 014 PHOTO COURTESY OF INSIDE OUT DESIGN