Home fencing is a great way to add privacy, keep the dog in the yard, and unwanted visitors out. The right fence can complement the look of your custom home – and even elevate it.
But what if you want a fence that’s a little different from the norm, and yet still offers all the benefits we mentioned above? If so, consider natural fencing.
Privacy hedges and other types of “living fences,” are an excellent way to bring color and beauty to your yard and home. In fact, some even attract butterflies and birds. Many of these fencing types require no more upkeep than what you’d do for your yard, and they’re often relatively easy for a landscaping professional to plant.
In communities like Indian Hill, where lot sizes tend to be quite large, natural privacy comes, well, naturally. But in Montgomery and surrounding communities like Loveland and Hyde Park, where homes are closer to one another, adding shrubs and trees can be a beautiful and unique way to add privacy.
Below are some of our favorite types of living fences that work great on a variety of custom home styles.
The boxwood fence
One of the biggest reasons we love boxwood hedges is that they’re very versatile. They work well surrounding modern custom homes, and more traditional homes as well. Boxwood plants come in a variety of sizes and height so you can add a little more privacy in areas like the backyard and around patios.
They can also be sculpted into different shapes and work well as part of a designed garden. In fact, if you like English and French gardens that feature sculpted shrubs, including some that make up a maze, you’re likely looking at boxwoods.
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Boxwoods are hardy and work well in Cincinnati’s humid summer and colder winter climate. And while they tend to grow slowly, they’ll last a very long time with minimal upkeep.
Privet fencing
Privet is another very popular form of natural fencing. In fact, there are about 50 different species of privat – from trees to shrubs. These plants are semi evergreen so they provide color most times of the year, and in the summer months, most varieties will grow beautiful white flowers. Like boxwood, privat can be shaped and trimmed easily. And since it offers dense foliage and can grow relatively high, privat is a great option for those seeking a little extra privacy.
The Italian Cypress
Hello, Tuscany! You can’t see a photo of the Italian countryside without seeing tall, willowy evergreen trees known as the Italian Cyprus. Here in Cincinnati, Italian Cyprus trees are growing in popularity, and for good reason. These trees are drought resistant and tolerate heat quite well. As evergreens, they provide a nice pop of color in the winter, too.
Line a driveway with Italian Cyprus or add them to the side of a backyard for privacy and a little European flair to boot.
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Looking for an alternative? Juniper trees are a great option if you like the look of Italian Cyprus. Junipers are a bit denser than the Cyprus tree and provide more color in the wintertime. They’re also easier to find and sometimes less expensive than the Italian Cyprus.
Flowering natural fences
If you’re looking for a fence full of flowers you’ve got plenty of great options. Lilac bushes make gorgeous natural fences, for example. They’ll yield beautiful, incredible scented flowers in the spring (although some varieties grow later in the year as well). They also grow quickly and are tolerant of cold winters, so they work well in Ohio yards.
Forsythia is another great option for natural fencing that will produce yellow flowers in the spring. These shrubs tend to grow quickly – to up to nine feet high – and are easy to sculpt. Love pops of red? Take a look at the Winged Spindle Tree, also called Burning Bush, that yields red leaves in the fall. We recommend this plant to bird watchers, as it attracts birds of all kinds.
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Similar in look to the Italian Cypress, Emerald Green Arborvitae is a tall, narrow, pyramid shaped shrub that keeps its green all year long. Easy to plant and maintain, today, many homeowners are choosing it for their natural fencing, especially since, even in the coldest months, it will maintain its bright green foliage.
Use Emerald Green Arborvitae as hedges or create a long row along the perimeter of your yard to achieve plenty of privacy.
Giant Green Arborvitae
Like the Emerald Green Arborvitae, the Giant Green Arborvitae is narrow and conical shaped, but it grows much taller In fact, it can grow up to three feet every year. The foliage is a deep green most of the year and in the wintertime can fade and darken just a bit.
Wind resistant and hardy, the Giant Green Arborvitae is an excellent choice for natural fencing, especially for larger homes and bigger lots.
A word about bamboo fencing
Bamboo is a very popular type of natural fencing – and for very good reasons. It’s inexpensive, grows fast, and is incredibly low maintenance (it also sounds soothing in the wind). But remember that bamboo can quickly overtake your garden.
We recommend using bamboo in a small part of the yard – to hide the area where the garbage cans are stored, for example. Don’t use it as your main source of natural fencing (unless you need a part time job!).
Ready to add natural fencing to your yard? Call the team at Classic Living Homes. We can help you find the perfect option for your custom home.
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