Not Fences Or Screens: Add Privacy To A Backyard With An Old-Fashioned Solution

Want to enjoy your backyard in peace without worrying about nosy neighbors or pedestrians? A privacy fence or screen might be effective, but they aren't for everyone. They can be troublesome to install and maintain, plus the cost of a privacy fence is enough to make many homeowners think twice. Aesthetically, fences and screens can also feel too artificial and make your backyard or garden feel isolated rather than secure. Why not opt for something natural, effective, and delicious? Smokehouse apples (Malus domestica 'Smokehouse') are a heritage apple variety dating back to the early 1800s, which can give your yard a sense of history as well. It works excellently as a privacy hedge and can even provide you with tasty apples.

Smokehouse apple trees are a beautiful alternative to fences and screens. They have dense branches that help shield your property without sacrificing the softer, more natural aesthetic of a peaceful garden. When picking a tree for a living privacy hedge, it's a good idea to choose one that's on the smaller side, since you want the branches to stay low enough so they don't block the view. Smokehouse apples fit the bill, staying between 10 to 15 feet tall on average. Depending on the area you need to cover, you may need multiple trees.

Smokehouse apples aren't particularly difficult to grow, which is partly how they've managed to stick around for centuries. If you learn the basics of how to grow apples, you'll be able to care for them properly. They're hardy in zones 3 through 9, so you can grow them in most states. As with other apple tree varieties, smokehouse apples thrive in full sun and rich, well-draining soil. Apple trees generally do not grow well in full shade, which is unfortunate if your backyard is heavily shaded. You can still attempt to grow smokehouse apples in shade, but they're likely to be weaker. This may make them less effective for privacy, since densely growing branches are ideal for a privacy screen.

One $25 to $60 tree can fill a gap of around ten to fifteen feet. That makes them fairly cost effective compared to privacy fences, which can cost $25 per foot on the low end. That's great news if you need multiple trees to cover your property. Space them roughly 15 to 20 feet apart so their branches don't become tangled. Your privacy hedge will have some gaps to start, but smokehouse apples tend to grow quickly. It typically bears fruit in three to five years. However, you will need at least one other variety of apple tree that blooms around the same time as smokehouse for pollination to occur. If you plant an entire privacy hedge along your backyard, you may end up with a substantial harvest. Luckily, smokehouse stores well, and if you learn how to store apples, you can keep your crop fresh for weeks after the harvest.