Add Height And Extra Privacy To Your Fence With A Trellis Hack

When it comes to living in close proximity to your neighbors, privacy can quickly become a cause for concern. Sometimes, the standard height of a backyard fence — which is six feet – is insufficient to shield your patio or garden from overlooking apartments or houses, taking away the joy of hanging out in peace. If you've explored ways to make your backyard feel more private but find that they aren't quite enough to your liking, extending the height of your privacy fence with a trellis could be the practical and aesthetic solution you've been looking for.

One way you can extend your backyard fence by 3 feet involves using a "work smarter, not harder" approach. The DOEWORKS Expandable Fence Privacy Screen comes covered with faux ivy, making it a high-performance and low-maintenance outdoor feature. Secure the trellis to your fence using one-inch dowel rods mounted with windproof bands at regular intervals. You could alternatively use U-clamps and brackets. The trellis panels can then be attached to the dowels with sun-resistant zip ties. This hack is an inexpensive and renter-friendly privacy fence idea that takes advantage of your vertical space and it's definitely cheaper than replacing your current fence.

If you have a heavier trellis that requires more support than normal dowels can provide, consider drilling wooden battens to your fence as sturdier support. As your trellis will be exposed to weather changes such as winds and rain, ensuring it is securely fastened to your fence is important. You may also apply a coat of weatherproofing paint to your trellis to make it more resistant to the outdoors.

To flex your green thumb, choose a bare trellis and add plants to bring color and life to your backyard. You can line planters along the top of your fence to display your favorite plants while hiding the division between the fence and trellis. If you want your trellis covered with a climbing plant, petunias work well in a planter and can easily attach to a trellis with the help of a dowel or rod. Some non-invasive choices are coral or goldflame honeysuckle. For year-round privacy, choose a vigorous evergreen climber like English ivy.

If you have a flimsy fence or a simple privacy screen on your outdoor patio that isn't stable enough to hold up a trellis, consider purchasing a standalone trellis that is taller than your fence. You can strategically place one or two of these trellises against your fence, using their extra height to block your neighbor's view of your garden. Go for a simple option like an expandable bamboo trellis or a sophisticated one like the FENCY Metal Raised Garden Bed with Trellis, which comes with a planter at the bottom for extra stability.