How to Make a Back Patio Private

Container Gardens

• Grow some tasty vegetables while gaining privacy around your patio. Grow a variety of vegetables in large planters and place them around the perimeter. Stake trellises in the largest of the pots and train vining plants such as cucumber and tomato up the poles. Fill in the top half of the view with hanging planters and upside-down pots holding trailing plants and flowers.

String Trellis

• Pound a series of stakes into the ground around the outside of your patio. Tie one end of a string to each stake and the other end of each string to the patio roof. Plant morning glory and moonflower vines around each stake. The vines will grow all the way to the roof within six weeks, creating a green living wall that keeps the casual eye from looking at you and your family.

Latticed Trellis

• Pound stakes every 4 feet around your patio. Staple or nail thin wood lattice between every stake. Paint the lattice wood to match your patio decor or leave it a natural hue to age. Plant ivy, sweet peas or other attractive vines at the base of the lattice to brighten up the look of the plain wall.

Ripstop Cloth

• Place posts at each corner of the patio or use existing posts if you have a covered patio. Sew rope ties to the corners of long sheets of ripstop nylon and tie them to the posts. The colorful nylon will cover up the view to your patio while adding a bright summertime touch to the backyard.

Bamboo

• Fast-growing bamboo can be the ideal privacy screen for your patio. There are varieties of bamboo that survive through below-zero winters, so it can grow in most parts of the country. Choose a medium-height variety with fast-growing habits, and your living screen can be in place in a matter of months.