[JerryLBell]

After stopping in and checking out The Villages for three years in a row, my wife and I are in the process of buying a house down in Dunedin. Being a new area, this isn't exactly as rich in trees as up in the north end. Our lanai will be staring directly into somebody else's lanai. We're thinking we want to plant some that will grow fairly tall and thick but not so thick that it will take over our yard or the neighbors.

What do people plant in this part of Florida to provide some level of privacy in these small yards? Or is everyone just so darned friendly that you don't mind reaching out from your lanai and shaking hands with the folks over in their lanai?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Choice Maintenance]

Most use Viburnums or podocarpus for taller privacy hedges. You can always use Bottle brush or ligustrums trees as well. Best thing to do is take a look around at other peoples shrubs and find something you like, then take a picture or find out the name. Once you find what you'd like to use we would love to provide you with a free estimate on picking them up and installing them for you.

Thanks,
Tate

[kaydee]

We have a wonderful privacy hedge of podocarpus. We recommend.

[justjim]

At our house in the Village of Hadley we planted a combination of bottle brush and ligustrum and it provided a nice hedge for privacy. It took about 2 years before we got a total private hedge.

[applesoffh]

The suggestions made are great! If you're thinking of something else, better check your deed restrictions first.

[PaPaLarry]

Very good suggestions here. What you don't want to do, is plant trees that not only branch out, but also the roots could crack foundation.

[Bonanza]

We wanted a privacy hedge like most Villagers, however, we chose not to have the boredom of only one type of hedge.

We planted, in even sections, podocarpus, viburnum and gardenias.
All are thick and after a year's worth of growth, are very attractive to look at and will only become better.

[tv2016]

Do the gardenias bloom ?

[Bonanza]

They have just started to bloom and are ready to explode!
The shrubs are a rich green -- thick, bushy and beautiful.

BTW -- they are not the thin leafed "frostproof" variety, and ours did fine over the winter..

[OldManTime]

Depending what district you live, deed restrictions are different, just make sure you bring your plan to the ARC board.

[tomwed]

Other than hedges for privacy has anyone come up with a different solution?

I have ordinary blinds for now but I'm thinking about the ones that drop down from the top so I can get more light into the room but still have privacy.

If you have a specific product in mind could you give the make and model, if possible?

[ConnieNonnie]

Hi. We learned the hard way - we planted hedge on both sides
Of newly installed pool/birdcage, staying 16 inches inside of our
Property line. Both neighbors complained, code enforcement
Came and measured. Rule is 24inches inside your property line.
We had to move every single shrub 8" in. Ouch! End result is
beautiful- we love our privacy. Good luck with your choice.

[Villager Joyce]

Bugs might be another consideration. Certain plants more than others attract wasps and bees. If there is one bee in the state of Florida, it will sting me.

[upstate]

Originally Posted by tomwed

Other than hedges for privacy has anyone come up with a different solution?

I have ordinary blinds for now but I'm thinking about the ones that drop down from the top so I can get more light into the room but still have privacy.

If you have a specific product in mind could you give the make and model, if possible?

We have a cellular shade in our bathroom that can be raised from the bottom and lowered from the top. It works very well and was purchased from Blinds.com.

[upstate]

We had bottlebrushes installed and had to get ARC approval. It will be two years this fall since they were planted. Hopefully, they will provide the privacy we are looking for.