Looking for advice to create privacy in my backyard... plants? vines? ideas?

I have a nice large backyard which is in a wonderful location- except there is one neighbor, their house is right next to my fence. It is an eyesore of a building for one, and there is a second story window that overlooks my entire yard. Last spring %26amp; summer I invested a lot in landscaping my yard, put in sod, a pond, and created a nice escape. The issue that I have is the teenager that lives next door is extremely nosy, like to sit in the sit on the window and just stare, listen to conversations, etc. I got so frustrated that I put up some lattice and netting to grow vines for privacy, but they have yet to fill in. I also bought a large market umbrella but it is not tall enough to block that window. Any advice? It is so frustrating!

Looking for advice to create privacy in my backyard... plants? vines? ideas?
%26lt;%26gt;A small to medium sized tree that can be limbed up to create an overhead plane above your sitting area is one solution. Another is a pergola covered with vines or roses. Or you could plant one or two strategically placed tall, narrow, columnar trees to block the offending windows and decks. Here are some suggested trees:





Apollo Sugar Maple


Arnold Tulip Poplar


Frans Fontaine European Hornbeam


Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Biloba


Fastigiata White Pine
Reply:Hi....I have sort of the same problem....I plant annual vines mixed in with perennial vines..Morning glories will just take right off and give you the privacy you need...Virginia Creeper and silver lace vine will do the job for you in a couple of years...To block my neighbours glares, I plant Russian Olive trees...they grow really fast. About a foot and a half a year,very full and a nice silver grey colour. Good luck...
Reply:You might change matters by asking any curious or nosy neighbour to read Mel Batholomew"s " The Square-Foot Garden". That way, almost anyone could have a garden. Maybe that teenager stares at your garden because it is so lovely, and would like some beauty in his own life and yard.
Reply:If you've got an extra $750 or so sitting around and the temp doesn't drop below 10 degrees F you could go for cold hardy bamboo. Some varieties will grow 60 ft tall. You have to install a barrier in the ground to prevent the roots from spreading. Check out bamboosourcery.com





With the root barrier you don't have to worry about it taking over your yard.
Reply:A fast growing vine is honeysuckle, but you will need to keep it under control so the weight doesn't damage your latice. After it starts filling in, you can add clematis for different color variations.
Reply:Morning glory grows fast and is dense. It also keeps coming back. And it is very pretty. It attracts bees. Be careful of crawlers like Virginia creeper...alot of people are allergic to it.
Reply:Have that area of the garden roofed over . It will be more Private, it will in effect be an outdoor room. Your vines will do the rest.As for the nosy neighbor confront him, ask him to mind his own business, or speak to his parents. Perhaps he is lonely and looking for company.If he does not respond to that ,report them / him to the local authorities.He / they are breaking the law by annoying his/ their neighbors.