Trying out privacy landscaping ideas? Look no further than the Obama's Chicago residence, the ultimate blueprint for replication! Amazingly simple to duplicate.
In the Kenwood neighborhood of Chicago, the home of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama boasts a unique and elegant garden design that offers privacy and aesthetic appeal. Drew Swainston, master gardener and Content Editor at Homes & Gardens, admires the Obamas' choice of plants for privacy.
The Obama residence employs a layered approach to privacy, using a combination of mid-height evergreen shrubs, smaller shrubs, and large trees to create a year-round screen and block views of their home's upper windows.
To recreate this hedging design in your own garden, consider the following steps:
- Plant a row of mid-height evergreen shrubs (such as boxwood, holly, or yew) at the boundary of your lawn to form a dense privacy screen. These evergreens provide year-round coverage, ensuring privacy even in winter.
- Use smaller shrubs (like hydrangeas or azaleas) along pathways and near the house to soften the transition and add visual interest. These smaller plants contribute to a more minimalist garden hedging, achieving similar levels of privacy with smaller plants.
- Incorporate large trees around the property edges for additional screening of higher floors and to provide a natural privacy barrier. Taller evergreens offer greenery, allow light to penetrate, and provide enough cover to protect from prying eyes.
This layered approach not only enhances privacy but also preserves the aesthetic appeal by linking shrubs and trees of varying heights. The Japanese Boxwood, for instance, is a fast-growing plant that provides structure and formality, making great privacy screens when planted together.
The Obamas' home serves as inspiration for creating a private oasis with the right planting. You can customize this technique to your preferred landscaping style, whether natural or trimmed in topiary shapes. The look of the Obamas' hedging plants is easier to recreate at home than you might think.
To help you achieve this garden transformation, Felco pruning shears are essential in every kind of garden. With hardened blades for easy trimming in the yard, these pruning shears are highly-rated for their effectiveness in tough rose pruning jobs.
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[1] Source: Homes & Gardens [2] Source: The White House Gardens: A History
By following these tips and taking inspiration from the Obamas' garden, you can turn your home into a tucked-away, private oasis that celebrates the best parts of your home.
- To create a private oasis similar to the Obama residence, plant a mix of mid-height evergreen shrubs, smaller shrubs, and tall trees in layers, as seen in a home-and-garden style landscaping approach.
- Subscribing to the Homes & Gardens newsletter can provide expert advice and practical tips on gardening, helping you achieve a private lifestyle and aesthetically pleasing landscaping.
