Recommendations for privacy plants?
 

Building a new house and (like many here in The Villages), our lanai will back up to another lanai.

Looking for a plant that will be bushy and provide good privacy to plant across the back property line.

Went to two nurseries yesterday and are thinking of either a bottlebrush BUSH (not the weeping tree) or a Viburnum. The nurseries had these plants in 7 gallon size for $40 each. Planted at their recommended 3 feet apart, it would be about 17 plants ... around $1340.

I'm leaning toward the bottlebrush because I like the flowers and the softer leaves.

If anyone has any opinion, please help me out here. Also, any recommendations for good nurseries would be helpful.

Bottle Brush bush. Planted ours to use as a privacy screen down the side of our home. They are very fast growing and do need pruning or cutting back. But give great screen. Don't pay too much for them, shop around on the internet or the box stores. Buy small they grow really fast, birds and bees love the flowers and they give great shelter to the birds too.

I understand the need for some sort of barrier for privacy. Hopefully not everyone is as "curious" as our back neighbors. Unbelievable how intrusive our neighbor could be. If you find yourself with a similar neighbor you may also want to consider blinds on your lanai. You could probably get them for not much more than the price of the plants you're looking at and you wouldn't need to wait for them to grow, water or trim them. In the mean time you may come across a plant option you like better. The blinds will filter the light coming in which may be good if you get direct sun at any point of the day but does make it darker in the house all the time.

Just remember IF your going to plant them do not plant them in the drainage swail line. Also remember you have to trim the backside so another reason to stay off the property line. I to like the bottle brush and the shade idea.

We have a kissing lanai, also. I spend a great deal of time on the lanai because I love it out there. Hopefully our neighbors don’t think I’m being curious or in their business.

And you should read your deed restrictions . Mine say that you cannot define a property line with plantings. Also, if it is a utility easement, the power, phone, cable companies are within their rights to pull up anything you plant to access the easement or their lines.

As stated above check with ARC, you will need to get approval for the plantings. From what I have seen in our neighborhood, you will need to plant almost next to your lanai as the space between lanais is quite limited. You can get inexpensive shades from Home Depot or Lowes. The installation is relatively easy if you attach to the aluminum screen frame, it is more complicated if you attach to the stucco, there is a steel frame under the stucco, which makes drilling a pain.

Besides being a lot of maintenance when the Viburnums are trimmed they don't provide good privacy. I removed the ones we had and placed with the Podocarpus since the neighbor behind us chose.:highfive:

Suggestion
 

You've stated you are having a new home built.
You might ask the builder about who is doing the landscaping, they should be able to advise you. Also, they can advise you about regulations, what is underground. You may well find that they can buy the plants for far less than you can. You will likely find that you need to file a plan and get a permit.

RE: bottle brush vs viburnum
I'm sure you realize they both have many similar but different plants in their group. We have a bottle brush, supplied by the builder so I do not know the exact variety but 3 foot spacing with this plant, would be far too close.
in four years our plant is 5-6 foot wide and about 10 foot high.
We also have viburnum-also installed by the builder. They too are tough as nails.

PRIVACY? Privacy does not exist in the villages.

Podocarpus bush is the best for privacy. We did 16 of them about 3 feet apart. As you drive thru the village watch for them and you'll see how they will look once mature. A little more costly but will give you what your looking for. Bottle brush, as they grow the lower and middle areas thin out.

Thank you to all who have responded. Lots of great thoughts here. I didn't realize I would need a permit. Thanks again!

All the plants you mentioned can provide privacy. It’s largely a matter of personal taste.

I would encourage you to take your time. Don’t rush. Drive around and see what you really like a lot. Talk with the homeowners and ask questions. You will likely live with these plants a long time.

It’s very easy to plant something and have it grow much larger than you anticipated very quickly. Then you may hate them. Been there.

Another suggestion...have you considered European fan palm?

I like Fairview Farms. Just off 301. They are very helpful and reasonable. Bring a photo showing area you want to put shrubs/plants.
Good luck!

The best choice by FAR is Podocarpus for a myriad of reasons.

A solomonesque solution
 

You discussed it with your neighbor. You allowed them to pick the plant. NO ONE FELT AS IF THEY HAVE BEEN SLAPPED IN THE FACE.

Good bushes make good neighbors-ESPECIALLY IF THEY PICK THE BUSHES-

I like the bottle brush plants as well but you likely do not need 17 of them! The grow really, really fast and will fill in quickly so give them more space. Don't know how big your lanai is but you can probably get away with half as many and save yourself some money. By next summer you'll have your privacy.

:confused: What am I missing? $40.00 X 17 plants =$680

We chose Bottle Brush. Planted them ourselves. Bought them at Home Depot. We have sandy soil, easy to dig and drop them in. These plants were two foot tall just six years ago. Easy to maintain and grows FAST and not nearly as expensive as quoted by your landscaper. TAKE your time and when you move in, see how easy it is to dig a hole in the sand under the sod.

A ligustrum privacy hedge in back of the lanai screens is all you need. No need to worry about property lines or approval.

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I was assuming he meant the neighbor behind him planted them on his property, making it unnecessary for him to plant anything. Thus the high-five icon. A very inexpensive way to go, if I'm right.

I agree with whoever said the bottlebrush plant can thin out toward the bottom. Ours did. Plus it's not very attractive and needs to be trimmed so frequently to keep it in check that the blooming is frequently interrupted.

I don't need a privacy hedge, but I really do admire some I've seen along the bigger roads, especially Tamarind Grove and St. Charles. You should drive around and just look. Some of them are combinations of plants and look lovely.

Also--Coolaroo shades do more than afford privacy--they cut down on wind a bit, and rain. They also cut down on the sun shining in your eyes when you're trying to read the morning paper, inside and out. We love ours. We bought them at Lowes and had them installed by them. I think it was around $300 apiece, or $1200 total for our Begonia in 2012.

You might consider 15 feet of privacy plantings plus the shades.

What a lovely dilemma to have, huh? Good luck!