The Pretty Perennial Grass To Use As A Naturally Tall Privacy Screen

Fences are designed to separate properties and create more privacy; they aren't always aesthetically pleasing. Plus, they can be expensive, with the average fence installation costing around $3,300. Luckily, though, you don't need to build a fence for a more secluded backyard. Instead, you can opt for a more natural solution and plant 'Cloud Nine' switch grass (Panicum virgatum 'Cloud Nine'), a gorgeous ornamental grass that doubles as a stylish, natural privacy screen.

Native to North America, this cultivar grows in dense upright clumps and can reach 7 feet tall. Aside from its height, which outpaces that of most switch grasses, 'Cloud Nine' has other striking features as a privacy screen plant, including tall, spiky leaves that are an attractive bluish-green at the start of the growing season. In mid-summer, light-colored flowers or panicles burst from the top of the plant. Their cloud-like appearance is what gives this plant its name. Once fall rolls around, the leaves of 'Cloud Nine' switch grass change to a golden color before fading into tan or beige in winter.

Choose this switch grass cultivar for a natural privacy screen if you live in USDA Plant Hardiness zones 5 to 9, a range that covers much of the continental U.S. Along with its tall, hedge-like growth habit, this ornamental grass has a couple more benefits for the garden. For one, it's deer-tolerant, so you can grow it as a protective barrier around more susceptible — read: more delicious — plants. 'Cloud Nine' also supports a healthy ecosystem. The Panicum family is a larval host for most banded skippers and satyrs, and the grass provides food and shelter for birds and small mammals.

Curious how to use 'Cloud Nine' as a natural way to add privacy to your yard without fences? First, you'll want to make sure you can provide the right conditions for this ornamental grass to thrive in your yard. 'Cloud Nine' prefers full sun, but it will tolerate partial shade if necessary. Just don't expect it to grow to its maximum height, and it may also be more disease-prone. Too much shade causes the plant to flop over. It can grow in many different soil types, but ideally, it should be planted in moist, well-drained soil.

Before deciding that 'Cloud Nine' switch grass is the right plant to protect the privacy of your backyard patio, keep in mind that it can grow up to 3 feet wide. That's important to consider if you plan on planting it in a narrow space or right up against your property line. While its height makes it excellent for adding seclusion to outdoor seating areas, that isn't all this grass is good for. You can also plant it around ponds, along entrances and exit ways, or as a backdrop for a garden beds.

During the colder months of the year, the plant will go dormant, but it can still provide shelter for wildlife. There are also a couple of things you should do to take care of your switch grass through the winter. For example, it's best to trim the foliage in late winter or early spring before the growing season begins. Be sure to use clean, sharp tools and aim to leave 4 to 6 inches of foliage above the ground. Mulch the crowns before winter arrives if you live in an area with deep freezes.