Containers make the best neighbors

Do you love your neighbors but aren’t interested in watching them read the paper on their porch? Building a fence may send the wrong message. A group of lovely containers will not only create the privacy you need but also accomplish it with some subtlety. Make it a soothing green wall or a kaleidoscope of color. Here, tall ‘Siam Ruby’ banana and dog fennel screen the view while the coleus repeat colors from the rest of the garden.

1. Dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium, Zones 3–10)

2. ‘Siam Ruby’ banana (Musa ‘Siam Ruby’, Zones 9–10)

3. ‘Gnash Rambler’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Gnash Rambler’, Zones 12–13)

4. ‘Savannah’ ruby grass (Melinis nerviglumis ‘Savannah’, Zones 8–11)

5. ‘Golden Edge’ duranta (Duranta erecta ‘Golden Edge’, Zones 9–11)

6. ‘Pink Chaos’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Pink Chaos’, Zones 12–13)

7. Variegated St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum ‘Variegatum’, Zones 9–11)

Entryway plantings, like these, may or may not block views, but they can be used to clearly define the line between public and private zones. By covering a portion of the glass, the containers create an illu­sion of enclosure while offering attractive views for those inside and out. The use of bold foliage, repetition, and contrasting forms directs outsiders’ attention toward the fabulous plantings instead of the folks behind the glass.

Block unsightly reminders of everyday life

Dog kennels, garbage cans, nosy neighbors, and parking lots can be the nemeses of those trying to make beautiful spaces. Strategically placed containers can direct focus away from these less-than-ideal realities of life. This container grouping encloses the seating area from a public parking area and street, creating privacy while bringing the surrounding urban landscape down to human scale.

1. Leatherleaf sedge (Carex buchananii, Zones 6–9)

2. Angelface^® Pink summer snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia ‘Anpinkim’, annual)

3. Minifamous compact dark red calibrachoa (Calibrachoa ‘Kleca07145’, annual)

4. Tropicanna^® Gold canna (Canna indica ‘Mactro’, Zones 8–11)

5. ‘Cascade’ centradenia (Centradenia ‘Cascade’, annual)

Divide a room for a multipurpose space

Container plantings and living walls can do more than block undesirable views. In this backyard, glazed pots and custom Corten-steel planters give a sense of physical enclosure between garden rooms. The large bananas separate this intimate area from the rest of the landscape, creating a spot perfect for snoozing or intimate conversation on a warm summer afternoon.

1. Red Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, Zones 9–11)

2. Coleus (Solenostemon scutellariodes cv., Zones 12–13)

3. Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 4–8)

4. Tree of India (Amorphophallus konjac, Zones 12–13)

5. Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima, Zones 7–11)

Three Approaches to Creating Privacy

Just as with fencing, you don’t always need a solid wall to achieve privacy. Depending on the situation, choose plants that give you just the right effect.

1. Use a distraction

Sometimes all it takes is a better view to shift one’s eye from a less-than-desirable sight line to something easier on the eyes. In cases like these, I choose plant combinations and containers that act as focal points. Big, bold foliage and warm colors will draw the eye to your fabulous container combi­nation, a nice alternative to the neighbor’s jungle gym. Some of my favorite plants for this purpose include bold agaves (Agave spp. and cvs., Zones 7–11), mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata cvs., Zones 12–13), bromeliads, and African mask plant (Alocasia amazonica and cvs., Zones 10–11).

2. Put a veil in place

There are times when I need to create a little separation between parts of the landscape or offer a sense of enclosure, but a solid screen might make the space too claustrophobic. In these cases, tall yet airy plants are just the ticket, creating a veil that’s tall enough to define spaces yet transparent enough to offer a glimpse of the outside world. Airy plants that I like to use include King Tut^® papyrus (Cyperus papyrus ‘King Tut’, Zones 10–11), Australian tree fern (Alsophila australis, Zones 10–11), dog fennel, and soft-textured ornamental grasses.

3. Opt for a total screen

When an all-out visual screen is needed, I choose plants with dense foliage that will grow to the height necessary to prevent even a sneak peek from that nosy neighbor or the view of an ugly alley. For maximum screening, I use favorites like cannas (Canna spp. and cvs., Zones 8–11), bananas (Musa and Ensete spp. and cvs., Zones 8–11), and large elephant’s ears (Colocasia esculenta cvs., Zones 8–11). And by choosing tall con­tainers for your combinations, you can achieve a little extra height.