How to create a lush living privacy screen with climbing plants

If you’ve got close neighbours – or your yard, balcony or window is exposed to people walking (and gawping!) by – there’s an easy fix in the form of a living outdoor privacy screen.

With the right mix of climbing plants, supports, and a little shoot-and-tendril taming, you can create lush green cover that adds natural beauty and seclusion – and Jack’s here to show you how!

Explore categories:

• Landscaping & Garden Design
• Plant Growing & Protection

Unlike a privacy fence or standard screen made of wood or metal, a living privacy screen uses rows or clusters of plants to grow a natural barrier in outdoor (or even indoor) spaces.

They can be grown from scratch, using plant support structures like mesh and trellis. Or, if you want something more instant, you can grow living greenery on a ready-made Garden & Privacy Screen.

As well as providing privacy, living screens naturally hide fences and block ugly views (sheds, air con units, bins), turning the bland into blooming gorgeous! Plus, you can use them to define ‘zones’ in your front or back yard. Think a relaxing nook, a vegie garden, a fire pit area…

And the good news is, living screens are easy peasy to set up and grow with Jack – even if your green thumb is still underripe!

Be inspired: 14 garden screening ideas: add privacy, style and function

If you can block prying eyes with a standard garden screen or panel, why choose a green screen? Here are a few reasons people love living screens:

• Add colour, flowers and seasonal interest – Living means they bring changing foliage, blooms, and textures throughout the year, keeping your garden feeling vibrant, alive, and visually interesting in every season.
• Avoid that harsh, solid wall look – They turn hard boundaries into soft, green edges that break up straight fence lines and harsh lines of structure, helping the garden feel less boxy, more open, and naturally connected to the rest of the space.
• Grow over time, so privacy often improves as it matures – Unlike fixed screens, living screens develop and thicken as they grow. That means your privacy isn’t static – it gets better over time, as your climbers shoot up and climb.
• Add shade, cooling, and wind protection as a bonus – Beyond privacy, dense planting helps cool outdoor areas by reducing direct sunlight and reflected heat. It can also break up strong winds, making outdoor spaces more comfortable and usable year-round.
• Bring biodiversity (birds, bees, movement, life) into the space – Living screens create habitat and food for local wildlife. Birds, pollinators and helpful little insects are naturally drawn in, adding movement, sound and a sense of life to the garden.
• Help the whole garden feel more like a place, not just a boundary zone – Instead of feeling like you’re standing next to a fence line, green screens help make your garden look like a landscaped space – minus the landscaping pro! They’re intentional, inviting and more connected.

Explore the range: Plant Growing & Protection

If you’re loving the sound of living privacy screens, you might already know where you want to set them up. If not, it’s time to do some recon!

Start by walking your space and looking at it from every angle – not just your own view, but your neighbours’, the street, and any living areas like patios, decks, windows, balconies, and fence lines. You’ll quickly spot the spots where privacy matters most (and where a living screen would make the biggest difference).

If you’re working with a smaller space, don’t stress! Courtyards and balconies can also accommodate living screens, just on a more bijou scale.

Got a small space? How to design a small garden, Jack style!

So, let’s take a closer look at your options when it comes to growing a living privacy screen. Simply pick the one that best suits your space, planting style and the level of coverage you’re after.

Ready-made screens

As living screens take time to grow and fill out, ready-made Garden & Privacy Screens are a Jack-tastic way to create instant structure and seclusion while your plants take hold. You get instant garden privacy – the greenery just adds to it over time.

We’ve got some great screen products in our Jack range.

• Matrix Screens – Over 40+ modern decorative designs made from recycled plastic. Some popular picks include our Matrix Lush Decor Screen, Matrix Ferns Decor Screen and Matrix Rainforest Decor Screen.
• Screen Up – An easy install with a classic look. Simply install the black powder-coated Screen Up Joiner Posts, then slot in some timber slats.
• Oxy-Shield – Made from landscaping steel, the rusty patina only improves with weathering. They’re available in a range of laser-cut designs.

Whatever your vibe – from modern to natural or architectural – there’s one for you.

Explore full range: Garden & Privacy Screens

Plant trainers

Plant trainers make it super easy to guide climbing plants into lush, green privacy screens along walls, fences and balconies. They help vines grow upward instead of outward, making them perfect for creating natural screening in compact courtyards, patios and petite backyards.

Whether you’re growing flowering climbers or leafy greenery, plant trainers add structure to garden beds while helping your living screen fill out beautifully over time.

We’ve got heaps of different Plant Trainer designs. Some great options for privacy screens include our Wall Plant Trainer Square – Honeycomb, Trio Screen Plant Trainers and our Grip ‘n’ Grow Mesh Grid Wall Trainer, which has sturdy ribbed bars your plant tendrils can easily grab onto!

Explore full range: Plant Trainers

Trellis mesh

If you want a living privacy screen that grows thicker and spreads further, Trellis Mesh gives your climbing plantings more surface area to work with. You can guide growth over fences, posts and open spaces, creating lush, leafy coverage.

Mesh is made for vines, flowering climbers and fast-growing greenery that need plenty of spots to latch onto as they grow.

As plants get going, gently guide new shoots into the mesh so coverage builds evenly instead of clumping in one area.

Explore full range: Garden & Trellis Mesh

Pick the perfect product: The right mesh for your garden project

Garden arches

While they’re not strictly screens (there’s a gap in the middle!), Garden Arches are a simple way to soften sightlines and create natural separation in your outdoor space.

As climbing plantlings or blooms grow over and through them, they help frame views, partially block open areas and add a sense of being hidden away without making the space feel hemmed in.

They work really well in entryways, alongside paths, and as feature moments in the garden, leading the way through different spaces while adding height and structure.

Over time, once plants start to flourish, an arch can turn into a leafy tunnel or gorgeous green doorway that adds character and privacy.

Explore full range: Garden Arches

Only working with a small space? No drama! You can still build yourself a little green hideaway using pots and planters.

Simply add a few large pots and planters, then push small screens, trellis or plant trainers into the soil to instantly bring in height, softness and a bit of leafy cover. Hello, to a stealthier morning coffee! Or lean larger supports against a wall and pop your pot underneath for an easy, no-fuss setup.

Planters are perfect for renters, balconies and paved courtyards, letting you create a more private space without putting roots in the ground. Plus, you can move them around to soften the view in different directions whenever the mood (or the neighbour situation!) changes.

Explore full range: Pots & Planters

Be inspired: Garden trellis inspo for a stand-up backyard, balcony, or deck!

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The best plants for a living privacy screen

Picking the right plants is what turns your plant support into a proper green privacy screen. Climbers and fast growers are what you’re after. They cover any structure quickly and fill things out nicely.

Here are some popular, easy-to-work-with options:

• Star jasmine – A classic for a reason. Dense, glossy growth with beautiful fragrant flowers and great for fences and screens
• Climbing roses – Romantic, full coverage with seasonal blooms (and a bit of attitude when they get going!)
• Passionfruit – Fast-growing, productive and perfect if you want privacy and scrumptious fruit
• Ivy – Reliable evergreen coverage that’s great for consistent screening
• Sweet peas – Seasonal and colourful, ideal for lighter, decorative coverage
• Wisteria – Dramatic and beautiful, but needs strong support and patience while it establishes itself
• Climbing beans – A fun, fast-growing edible option for temporary or seasonal screening

Keeping your living privacy screen looking good

Once your living privacy screen gets going, a little ongoing low-maintenance care will keep it looking lush instead of a bit wild or gappy. Just a few small jobs and checks from time to time should do it!

Here’s what to stay on top of:

• Prune lightly and regularly to shape growth and encourage a fuller, more even green screen
• Tie in new shoots as they grow, so they follow the structure instead of heading off on their own path – check out our Jack Plant Ties
• Check fixings, stakes and supports every so often (especially after gusts or heavy growth) to make sure everything is still super secure
• Water consistently, depending on your plants and season – most screens prefer steady H2O in warmer months
• Feed every 4–6 weeks during the growing season (spring to autumn), and ease off or stop feeding in winter when growth slows down
• Swap out tired plants if something starts to struggle or leaves gaps in your screen

Explore full range: Landscaping Accessories

Still looking for answers to your living privacy screen questions? Jack’s got your back!

What is a living privacy screen?

A living privacy screen is basically a green wall made from climbing plants or shrubs grown on supports like Trellis Mesh, Plant Trainers or Screens. Over time, it fills out into a leafy barrier that gives you privacy and makes your space look more beautiful and natural.

What are the best climbing plants for privacy?

Fast growers and reliable climbers are usually your best bet. Think star jasmine, climbing roses, passionfruit, ivy and wisteria. They cover structure well and give you that lush, layered look you’re aiming for.

How do I make a natural privacy screen in my backyard?

Start with a support (Screen, Plant Trainers, Trellis Mesh, Garden Arches), plant your climbers at the base, then guide them as they grow – using plant ties to help them hang on. Early training goes a long way in turning climbing plants and blooms into a proper no-nosey-neighbours privacy screen.

Can I grow a living privacy screen in pots?

Yes! Pots and planters are perfect for renters, balconies and small spaces. Just pair them with a support, and you’ve got an instant portable green screen that can move with you! Check out our Small Trainers & Trellis and Mini Trainers & Trellis.

What is the best trellis for climbing plants?

It depends on your space, but anything with a good grip and structure works well. Mesh, grid-style trainers or classic trellis panels all give plants plenty to latch onto as they grow.

Can I use mesh for a climbing plant privacy screen?

Definitely! Mesh is great for creating wider cover because it gives plants more points to climb and spread across. It’s the perfect pick if you want a fuller, more even green screen.

How long does a living privacy screen take to grow?

It depends on the plants you choose. Fast growers can start filling in within a season or two, while slower climbers take longer but usually end up thicker and more established over time.

What is the best privacy screen for a small courtyard?

Go potty! Use more compact supports, such as Small Trainers & Trellis, add your climbing plants, and pop them in pots and planters so you can move your vertical gardens around. You might only have a petite space, but you can still grow an effective screen!

Are plant trainers good for creating privacy?

Yep, they’re brilliant for blocking prying eyes and unsightly views! By helping guide plants upward and across surfaces, you get a more structured, even screen instead of a tangled mess.

How do I maintain a climbing plant privacy screen?

Keep it simple: prune lightly, tie in new growth, check supports, water regularly, feed in growing season, and replace any tired plants. A little upkeep will keep your living green screen looking lush – and keep you secluded!

Get your living privacy screen started!

Keen to grow a natural privacy screen or two in your outdoor spaces? Simply pick your products and head to your local Jack supplier to grab them. Just be sure to check stock before you hop in the car!

Loving your luscious living screens? Why not share some snaps on socials, tagging @meetdiyjack? You might get a shout-out – and help inspire someone else’s green little hideaway.

After more backyard privacy screen inspo?

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