Question
My neighbor put up an ugly chain link fence between our yards.  It is an eyesore in our backyard.  What type of plantings can we use to hide it from our view.  It runs approximately 60 feet across the property.  I'd like to do something other than plant a boring row of evergreens.  I think I can spare about a 7 foot deep piece of the property for plantings without eating up too much of my yard.  Any suggestions?

Answer
The answers are numerous. If you don't want evergreens there are literally Hundreds of shrubs and flowers you could plant. Any shrub that is happily maintained at 5 or 6' wide and high will do the trick. Just pick several you like and plant them. However, if they are not evergreen you may be looking at chain link fence in the winter. Consider a mix of shrub types. Maybe a row of "boring" evergreens fronted by a row of perennials flowers for seasonal interest. Most shrubs should be planted 3 to 7 feet apart. Without knowing your climate and location I can not be more specific.

Best of Luck

Sean J Murphy, LA,ISA, LEED AP
Please check out my blogs and articles on landscape topics like this on my websites.
http://www.seanjmurphy.com
http://amenityarchitects.com