Beautify Your Backyard With This DIY Alternative To Boring Concrete Patio Walls

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Does basking on your patio make you feel like a mannequin in a department store window or the cutest kitten in the pet store? Maybe your neighbors really are staring at you every time you head out into your backyard. It's more likely, however, that you just feel that way because your patio isn't private enough. If you're on a budget, you need an aesthetically pleasing DIY privacy screen. Take boring concrete walls off the short list; there are simpler, prettier ways to deter prying eyes from your backyard. Planter boxes are flexible and beautiful, and they provide privacy and define borders in ways concrete walls could never.

Outdoor living areas are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, with home buyers proactively installing garden rooms, decks, and patios. If your patio feels like an extension of your home — and is just as private — you'll want to hang out there frequently. It should act as a secluded bridge to your backyard. There are numerous ways to add shade and privacy to your yard without any trees, but the options are often expensive (like installing a patio cover), impractical (like hanging outdoor curtains), or high maintenance (like creating a living wall of plants). Arranging planter boxes around your patio defines the space, adds living color and greenery, and eliminates the need for additional hardscaping — like the common default, a concrete wall. Plus, you can customize planter boxes in a myriad of ways to suit your personal tastes.

Planter boxes, patio containers, and raised beds alike are a way to define the border of your patio in the same way a wall does. However, they're far more flexible. There is a near-endless array of designs for raised garden beds to explore — you can indulge in whimsy or go hyper-minimalist. The only real rule is you need to plant it with shrubbery tall enough to block the neighbors' view. The whole arrangement (both plant and planter) should be 6 to 12 feet tall.

In a rustic backyard, you could turn old tree stumps and a wood pallet into a beautiful garden planter box. If you like woodworking or have a pal who does, you could build a large wooden planter box that you can stain or paint any hue you wish. If repurposing is more your style, turn an old bathtub or an old wheelbarrow into a unique raised bed. If you want a farmhouse-chic planter box anyone can easily DIY, try a galvanized trough. A Behlen 6-foot by 2-foot by 2-foot Stock Tank from Home Depot is durable, paintable, and more than deep enough for shrubs or small trees.

Arranged around the perimeter of your patio, planter boxes create a border between the patio and the rest of your yard. You're also free to position them in any configuration you prefer. If you seek a classic, traditional look, arrange sleek planter boxes in a neat, evenly spaced row. If your backyard has more of a free-spirit vibe, mix and match different planters and stagger their locations. Need a change? While it's a somewhat labor-intensive task, you can move freestanding planter boxes around anytime you like. Use a dolly or empty them of plants and soil to lighten the load.