One way to create a natural-looking border for a patio or porch is by planting a vertical box garden. Do this by building a wooden frame to hold potted plants. Stain the wood for a finished look, or leave it to weather naturally with the elements. Slide the pots back and forth or change them around to vary their appearance from day to day. Use a movable frame to slide the garden back and forth as you prefer, or secure the support posts in the ground beside the patio for stability. In this way, you will have an endless supply of interchangeable, living, growing, garden decorating choices.

Another option is to use trellises to train climbing vines that will grow and shield you from view. Many different varieties of climbing plants can provide you with variegated color and even a light floral scent. Rose bushes, passion flower, honeysuckle, clematis, and morning glories all are excellent, colorful choices.

If you prefer, you can border your backyard or patio with small shrubs and miniature trees that will offer a measure of privacy as they grow. Select ornamental shrubs such as lilacs, redbuds, or flowering crabapple. Or, if you prefer not to clean the patio regularly, choose shrubs that don’t flower. Wax myrtles, barberry shrubs, and juniper bushes typically require less cleaning and maintenance than their flowering counterparts.

Some miniature trees that can offer a slightly more secluded space include Japanese maples, dwarf plum trees, or small evergreens. Of course, if you choose trees that lose their leaves each fall, you will pay a small price for the beautiful color that will surround your patio during the spring and fall. Be prepared to rake those leaves, and sweep the patio or porch clean!

A slightly different twist on using miniature trees for privacy involves creating what is known as a living fence. Use dwarf fruit trees such as apple or peach, or use flowering ornamental trees like magnolias or dogwood. Build a frame of wooden posts about 8 feet apart, and string wire between the posts. Plant the trees about three feet apart. During the first few years, you will need to spend extra time cutting back, or pruning, the branches, and tying them together so that they intertwine as they grow.

Of course, none of these options may work well for you, or perhaps you just don’t enjoy the amount of maintenance gardening some of these options require. In that case, you can always build a decorative fence or wall. There are a number of attractive options from which you can choose, and you can still have that little bit of privacy that makes your house a home.