Skip Traditional Privacy Fences — Keep Peeping Neighbors Out With A Genius Find From Amazon

Traditional privacy fences are great at keeping nosy neighbors at bay, but they also tend to make your lawn feel enclosed and dark. Thanks to a product on Amazon, you can turn any fence into a privacy fence. Or, take what you already have and make it look a little nicer. As the name suggests, the iCover Artificial Ivy Privacy Screen is a dense mat comprised of fake ivy leaves that can make your currently open yard feel more secluded. The product comes in several different sizes. It also has a reinforced back that can easily be cut to perfectly fit the fence or balcony. The mat attaches to any structure with just a few cable ties, which are included, for a quick weekend project. 

The beautiful faux green leaves are low maintenance, thick enough to block nosy neighbors from seeing into your yard, and look nice. "Easy installation and provides the privacy I needed. The size also happened to be perfect for my patio so I didn't need to cut out any piece," noted a five-star review on Amazon. You don't have to use this product by itself either. Pair with a few budget-friendly solutions to create privacy in your outdoor space, like beautiful curtains or trifolds, and you will have a stunning yard where you can feel completely alone in no time. Unfortunately, though this product looks amazing and currently has 4.2 out of 5 stars, at the time of writing, there is one major problem potential buyers need to be aware of before making a purchase. 

The biggest problem, according to reviewers, is that the iCover Artificial Ivy Privacy Screen doesn't tolerate UV light for a long time. As a one-star reviewer on Amazon complained, "Owned this ivy for less than a year, it sees moderate sunlight on our balcony. The plastic has degraded to the point that it crumbles in your hands and a slight breeze is causing it to break apart from the railing. Do not purchase if this will be outdoors, it will not last you one season." While unfortunate, there are ways to protect the material a little better. For one, you can attach it to an already existing privacy screen, which will make the attachments on the back more secure and protect it against some of the worst of the elements. 

You can also use the screen only in shadier areas. Instead of placing this product around your entire property line, you can add privacy to your backyard without losing the open feel by creating a private nook in a place where it's not especially sunny. Similar to when you're weatherproofing an indoor pillow for outdoor use, you could consider using a UV coating to help protect your faux greenery privacy fence, and increase durability. For example, this UV Protection Spray for Outdoor Surfaces by Durabasics, also available on Amazon, works well on products like artificial plants and helps prevent cracking and fading.