A plant box with a privacy screen protects the balcony or terrace from prying eyes. The flowers, climbing plants and perennials ensure that it is not only a functional addition to the outdoor area, but also a real eye-catcher. We explain how to plant your planter with privacy screens and what you need to consider.
Planting a planter box with a privacy screen: The planning
In principle, a wooden planter box with a trellis offers scope for different plants. Depending on how permeable or opaque the privacy screen should be, the number and type of climbing plants can also be determined. Therefore, first consider:
- What purpose should the planter serve? If it is only used as a room divider in the garden, then low and medium-high flowers, grasses and perennials are sufficient.
- Do you need additional privacy protection? Then you can also include climbing plants and plant them on the trellis.
- What space do you have?for the wooden boxchosen? Does it cast shadows on the flowers or not?
- Do you need privacy protection all year round or just during the gardening season?
Once you have answered these important questions, you already know what to look for when choosing plants and what requirements they should meet.
Have you already chosen the perennials, flowers, grasses and climbing plants? Then you can start planting. Pay particular attention to good drainage so that no waterlogging occurs. Wooden planters must also be lined with foil so that the damp soil does not come into contact with the wood. Models made of plastic should also be anchored to the ground because they can tip over in a strong storm.
Matching climbing plants for the planter box with trellis
Luckily, there are numerous climbing plants that look good on both the balcony and the terrace. We list several plants and also name suitable planting partners. Because not only the trellis, but also the wooden box should be filled with flowers and green leaves. When choosing climbing plants, you should consider their space requirements. Some plants tolerate pruning well - others do not. Some spread quickly and can then damage the house facade. Others grow much slower. Ask the garden center specifically about varieties that are suitable for the balcony. In principle, they also thrive on the terrace.
- Wild Vine: planting partners sweet peas, black-eyed Susan, ivy
- Clematis – planting partners: aster, hostas, gypsophila, silver rue
- Climbing rose – plant partner clematis and honeysuckle
- Ivy – also suitable as a ground cover
- Climbing hydrangea – plant partner clematis, delphinium and iris
- Honeysuckle – Planting partner: Evergreen creeping honeysuckle, cyclamen, squill
- Trumpet flower – plant partner dahlias, ice begonias, gladiolus
- Climbing Malbar spinach
- Trichterbinde
Advantages of climbing plants:
+ They offer privacy and wind protection
+ You can divide larger areas
+ Perfect for small balconies where the plant box is rather narrow and there is otherwise little space left for tubs and pots.
Evergreen plants for the balcony and terrace
Evergreen plants offer a welcome change in pots and wooden boxes. They are easy to care for, stay green all year round and can adapt well to different conditions. Most varieties for the balcony are “dwarfs”, which means that they have a maximum height of less than 2 meters.
- Black pine
- Sugarloaf spruce
- Japanese maple
- Edging yew
- Lavendelheide
- Small-leaved evergreen
- Dwarf mountain pine
- Tree of life
Advantages of evergreen plants:
+ Offer privacy protection even in winter
+ Can be perfectly combined with climbing plants
+ robust, hardy, easy to care for
Tall grass for the balcony box
They provide additional privacy: tall grasses shield private areas at least as successfully as climbing plants. Easy to care for, hardy - the following species look good in the planter with privacy screen:
- Miscanthus
- Pampasgras
- Riding grass
- Garden bamboo
- Switchgrass
Most ornamental grasses need a caring cut in spring. Otherwise they are pretty undemanding and are a nice addition to the modern patio or balcony.
Advantages of grasses:
+ Easy to care for and very robust
+ Most are an eye-catcher all year long
Flowering plants as an eye-catcher
Create a floral display with the next few small flowering plants. They cannot provide privacy themselves, but they are a great addition to the arrangement. When choosing flowering perennials, you should also make sure that they get along well with the other plants in the box and have similar requirements in terms of location, soil and watering.
- Dwarf rhododendron
- Azaleas
- Panicle hydrangea
- Summer spar
- Dwarf weigela
- Fingerstrauch
Advantages of flowering perennials:
+ Perfect gap filler in the balcony box
+ Set accents
+ Can be perfectly combined with climbing plants
Berries and other crops for the planter with privacy screen
There are also several useful plants that are ideal for the planter and thrive there. Choose varieties for balcony gardens, i.e. those that have a compact growth habit.
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Lavender
- sage
You can of course bring the crops with youother suitable ornamental plantscombine.
Advantages of crops:
+ Attract birds, butterflies and pollinating insects.
