How to Landscape for Backyard Privacy on a Corner Lot

Walk your property and choose the precise area you will call the backyard. Often, this is a line that extends from the back of the home straight across toward the edge of the street on one side, and to the neighboring residence on the other. Some people prefer that the entire side yard, where both streets pass, be included as part of the backyard. Designating your preference is key. The edge of your yard closest to the street that parallels the side of your home (rather than the front) will automatically be included.

Measure the length of the entire backyard, as per your decision on what you want enclosed. The measuring is especially important if you choose to put in fencing, but it is also good to know so you can choose how many plants you will need. For example, if the measurement from the side of the house to the street is 50 feet, and the length to the back perimeter is 100 feet, and you are planting trees every 10 feet, you know that you will need 15 trees.

Sketch your home and lot on large paper. Then design the locations of any fencing, major trees, shrubs and flower beds. For privacy, tall-growing evergreen trees serve well as a backdrop to deciduous trees. Italian cypress, for example, can grow to become a very tall hedge if planted along the street side. When the yard is interspersed with fir and pine trees, and dotted with deciduous trees, privacy will be inevitable once all plants mature.

Lay out the fencing, or hire a contractor to erect a fence. A six-foot fence alone may be sufficient to create instant privacy. However, you will want to add plants on the inside areas of the fence, for shade, beauty and even more privacy. If you choose to omit the fencing, plan to purchase many more trees and shrubs.

Mark out the area to be planted. This is easily done by staking the ground about every 10 or 12 feet, and wrapping twine between the stakes. It's an especially good method to use for marking the area from the side of the house to the street. If you aren't worried about straight lines (as for fencing) you can omit this action.

Prepare your soil in the designated planting areas. Dig or till it and remove all grass, sod, rocks and debris. Add decomposed compost and any other soil amendments as needed. (Clay, for example, would need pine straw, grass clippings and so forth, perhaps even a little sand.) Till again if you are adding a lot of amendments. Rake out the area.

Purchase your plants. You are going for privacy, so you will need a lot of plants. Trees are your foundation plants, then shrubs, then bedding plants. Buy the best-quality trees you can find at the most mature age you can afford. Larger, more mature trees are quite pricey, but you'll have privacy faster. Another approach is to get trellises and train climbing plants and vines to create natural-looking walls.

Return to your yard and dig holes for each of the plants, then place them in the ground, backfill with soil and tamp the dirt down firmly. Start with the trees. Plant these about 4 to 6 feet from the street's curb. Lay the shrubs closer into the yard. Spread them out, grouped somewhat informally, leaving plenty of room for each tree to mature. Water the plants well.