Help! Suggestions to hide this eyesore please.

Our neighbor just installed this fence on his side of our chain link fence. He is not going to paint it. It's 2 feet from our fence at our back corner and touches our fence at the front corner. There's a very large gap between fences for weeds to grow, and the fence itself looks horrible. DH thinks we'll have to plant red-tip photinias in front of it to really hide it. Any other suggestions? Preferably something thick, evergreen and about 6-8' tall. I'd much rather plant something to hide it than build our own wood fence. I know it will take a while for something to grow that big, but I can probably hide it with cannas in the meantime. Part of the yard there gets mostly shade, another part gets midday/afternoon sun.

That bamboo fencing comes in lengths that tall and can be attached to your chain link fence easily. The effect would be instant in one weekend and it should last several years. This would give you time to grow something big enough to do the job in front of the bamboo. It's not really bamboo, it's reed. It cost $25 for 15 feet of 6 ft tall roll.

This message was edited Aug 17, 2013 4:12 PM

I think it will look better when it weathers a little. The space for weed growth is going to be a problem. Too bad your neighbor didnt take care of that issue before the fence was put in.

Bamboo fencing - I didn't even think of that! Thanks steadycam. That should work for the part of the fence where nothing is growing now. About half of our chain link has wisteria on it. It's not filled in yet, as it just grew in two years ago (It crept under ground from the neighbor behind us). We love the wisteria, but not sure how well it will conceal.

I do hope it improves as it weathers. When I first saw the raw wood, I was encouraged, thinking it would weather to a nice gray, much better than the dark brown fence he took down (the last neighbor had actually hung wood fence panels on our chain link fence poles). But when I got up close and saw all the printing and paint splotches, along with the huge gap, I was so disheartened! I don't think we should be responsible for clearing weeds out of that gap since it's his property, but I sure don't want to look at them.

Thanks for the ideas and encouragement!

I would try wax myrtles (myrica cerifera). Nice soft evergreen shrub (fairly fast growing w a little supplemental water) that takes shade or sun in dfw area. Can get the regular (taller ones), or some of the named cultivars vary in size & are a bit smaller. Side benefit, foliage has wonderful aroma when touched. 2nd benefit: native to Texas so it supports bird populations w berries and habitat. If it were me, I would plant the ones that are where the 2' gap between fences as close as possible to your fence line so the shrub will fill in the gap and eventually shade out some of the unwanted under growth in the gap.

Good luck with the weeds or anything else that might grow through there via your neighbor. I have the same situation along my back fence and have to spray Roundup on the weeds and Bermuda grass that comes through. The corner might be a good place for Weeping Yaupon Holly. Salvia Garanitica grows tall and might do nicely along the fence (no help in the winter, though). Do not plant Photinias, you will regret them immediately.

Carla

Whatever you do, don't plant anything close to the fence that might grow into the chain link fence in say 20 years or so. We've been dealing with that for the past 8 years!

Thanks for your help, everyone. I have reluctantly decided that patience is required. We will most likely plant wax myrtles along half of the fence line, when cooler weather arrives. We have a storage shed near the back corner - no room to plant anything behind it, but at least it hides that section of the fence from our view. DH has been planning to build me a potting shed from an old trampoline frame. We decided to place it next to the existing shed, to block more of the fence, and I can train some wisteria over it, since I'll be losing it along the fence line. It's just so discouraging when we work hard to make our yard a nice, inviting place and someone disrupts it all. But, I'll try to stay positive and think how lovely it will look in another year or so.

If anyone finds wax myrtles at a good price, please D-mail me. Thanks again!

I agree with Loonie. Do NOT plant Photinias. My experience in Dallas is that they are over-used, spread like crazy, get sick and die. The end.

I'll D-mail you about wax myrtles so we can share info. I've been taking notes, if I can find them.

I think rather than going with a perennial that will break your heart when you accidentally weedwhack it after bermuda or something gets in there, maybe some morning glory seeds next spring. I have chainlink inside of privacy fence, and the section that looks the best and has the fewest hackberries invading the fences is the part the morning glories claimed.

Just an idea that depends largely upon your creativity and your current relationship with the neighbor in question...
Instead of planting something that you don't really seem to want, what about painting some type of "mural" on the side of the fence facing you... By mural, I mean a simple vine pattern or other outdoorsy subject matter that would be easy to create yet minimal enough not to overpower your own plantings / yard accoutrements already in place. A small can of dark green paint (quart) and a smaller can of white paint (pint) to mix with the green for different shadings, a few smallish paint brushes, a couple of rags and you're good to go. If the fence is set on wood posts, use appropriate long brackets and add a couple of hanging baskets.

The fence is there and obviously will be for some time so why not make the best of it and do what you can to make your own heart happy. To be sure, the neighbor is rarely if ever going to look at the side of the fence facing you and if you act minimally, no harm will be done to the actual structure by a little paint or a couple of small screws that hold up a hanging basket(s). Just remember that you can always add a few more painted tendrils, leaves, whatnot but in this situation, you'd have a heck of a time removing any so take your time and make it a fun project, not just a rush cover job which you'll probably hate more than the bare wood you're looking at now... Also keep in mind that the wood will eventually age to some shade between grey and a darker brown while the colors you choose to use will theoretically stay close to their original color. Quite honestly, a vertically painted vine also solves the issue of weeding, seasonally cleaning plant matter out of the chain link and so on.

Although this probably isn't the most honorable way to look at such instances between neighbors, I tend to take limited ownership of anything that is on the property line and that I have to look at everyday while keeping in mind that while I modify it to a degree (in this case the fence), I will try my best not to do anything that would damage or otherwise impair the objects being modified nor that would aggravate the neighbors more than they already aggravate me.

Before someone gets the idea that I encourage destructive acts, no matter how large or small, I don't and never will BUT a little creativity on your part will often make a situation like the fence problem noted into a much smaller matter than it seemed like at first.
The rock throwing may now commence...
Steve W

You must not have a Homeowner's Association in your neighborhood. Our HOA says that the "bad" side of a fence has to be on the inside (the owner's side) unless it is a "good neighbor" fence-one that looks the same from both sides. Couldn't you stain or paint your side of the wood? Of course you still have the ugly posts to look at. Our Lowe's has the solid Bamboo fence, but it's about $75 per 6feet- pricey.

Good ideas, Steve!

Pinterest always has great ideas for any problems we face so here's a page on fences. I really liked the idea of the shutters (against the fence you don't like) as well as the trellis idea.

http://www.pinterest.com/sherrys_place/garden-fences-walls/

I love the murals at the bottom of this page in the center and the 4th photo:

http://www.pinterest.com/m_art_y/design-fence-murals/

Great suggestions, everyone! Thanks.

No, we don't have a HOA. We live in an older neighborhood that is sadly going a bit downhill. I did check the city ordinance and it says nothing about which way the fence should face. Since this one went up, I'm now noticing them all over town - fences with pole sides out. Personally, I think it's a sign of more selfish attitudes. Folks these days want to keep the best side for themselves. I was raised to be more considerate of others. My family had a stockade fence when I was a kid, and I can remember my dad saying that you put the pretty side to the neighbors. I guess that's why it bothered me so much.

I considered painting the fence, but our chain link fence next to it would make that very difficult, if not impossible. The fence is his property, so I won't bother it. I would prefer to plant something lovely that will screen it. I've decided not to rush, but to be patient and find what I really want to plant there.

That is a very good attitude.

Quote: "Since this one went up, I'm now noticing them all over town - fences with pole sides out. Personally, I think it's a sign of more selfish attitudes. Folks these days want to keep the best side for themselves."

Just to play devil's advocate here for a moment, one of the reasons that the "good" side typically faces in is that the major and most time consuming work required to attach the stringers (horizontal pieces that the vertical fence boards are nailed to) and the actual fence boards can be done from inside the fence builder's property line instead of on the adjoining owner's property.
In your particular case, if the workers had positioned the new wood fence on the property line as it should be, they'd have to be standing on your property to do everything except dig and concrete the posts. In most cases, they'd rather not do that as the practice has its own issues regarding trespassing, property damage claims, worker access, etc.
Note that I'm not saying either side out is right or wrong nor that you don't have somewhat of a legitimate visual grievance but rather, sometimes fences are built one way or the other for specific reasons.

I don't usually care one way or the other and in my case, the three "good" sides of my fence face the alley, my rear driveway, and the neighbor's yard (who also has a 6' wood fence). I typically don't spend a lot of time in the alley nor my driveway so that leaves the neighbor who only goes outside to feed her dogs and I sincerely doubt that she ever looks at her "good" side of the fence since she's a renter... doesn't mow, water, maintain, or anything else that has to do with the exterior.
Just sayin...
Steve

If you don't like the poles then they are really quite easy to hide by boxing them in with 3 fence boards. The fence in my backyard is done that way. I can post a picture if you are interested.

the other reason you put pretty side out is security.

It is much harder for an intruder to climb the pretty side of a fence. That being said, whoever installed my privacy fence around my back yard chain link put pretty side in on the property to my east, probably because the owner at that time was fairly hostile, and that allowed the slats to be installed from my side. On the south side, the fence is pretty side out, to make it more difficult for animals and humans to scale it, and on the west side the land belonged with my house, but trouble frequently comes from the lot so it is pretty side out.

In 12 years I have had zero dog escapes and one skunk in the back yard. No coyotes. One little possum BETWEEN the fence lines. I pulled the dogs in and he wisely left the way he came

I would stain it.....use a sprayer and or roller. Look up Defy paint on the web, use the Hardwood Walnut Stain - best color. You can't find it in local stores, only online. Price wise, cost is similar per gallon as stain, requires twice as much more for the initial two coat job. Not the cheapest, fairly easy to apply, but it bonds with the wood and doesn't fade like oil stains, has UV protection. I put it on my new cedar fence, and it looks as good today as it did 2 1/2 years ago. Neighbors with new fences and oil stains are having to restain two years later, especially where sprinklers or sun hit the fence. The two pictures from 10-17-13 get a lot of hot sun and water exposure. I'm good to go for another 3-4 years.

That said, I have found that Leatherleaf Viburnum bushes are some of the best bushes you can use in your yard. Photinias are horrible, disease ridden plants. Holly bushes are OK, but over planted and slow growing. The Leatherleaf's grow reasonably fast, lush year round and I have not had disease or insect problems with these in seven years. These two were small 3 gal when planted in 05. Do well in shade or sun.

Wax myrtles are on the invasive lists, vitex does well.

OK.... Really shouldn't be lurking, no time. But putting my opinion in on this.

If it were my yard and built and looked like you pictured, I would first address the weeds & grass between the fences. Use vinegar to spray what is there now to kill it down some. I would then see if I could cut cardboard wide enough to come 3 " on your side, slide under the fence on your side to touch his fence; do this all along the fence. If you can get cardboard there then put thick layers of newspaper there and wet it down well. Then pile at least 3" of mulch on top and keep it wet for at least a month. It should kill the grass and not allow additional to come "up". What come thru the fence will find it tougher to root also.

Then I suggest a roll fence that we have attached to chain link fence for more privacy. It's been in place for 10 years or so now. It is available from a fence company (Atlas, Acme?) that is on Jacksboro Hwy just outside of downtown Fort Worth before you cross the river. It rolls out, attaches with wire and is natural and ages well. We put a strip of flashing along the bottom to keep soil in and weeds out. My dog and the neighbor dog were having a problem seeing through the fence, so we cut a hole up near the gate for them to peep thru! The fence is flexible to go up or down with slope of land (second pic). My neighbor on the other side put it up in their yard first (last pic) and even though I had the "ugly" side, I liked the privacy it offered.
OK, that is my 2cents.

This message was edited Oct 18, 2013 6:58 AM

If you have that much space between the fences, although cardboard/newspaper is a good suggestion it will break down in a short time span. If you decide to put up a roll type fence or something else, the problem will return in time.

Go to a building site and pick up scrap plywood or OMB roofing pieces. Lay them down between the fences ensuring you have an overlap of pieces, and you won't have problems for many years.