Project Privacy (aka Nothing Personal)

An important decision to make is whether to save money and have a wood fence put in say next year, or to go with a living wall option almost certainly in the form of a hedge.  My own little pro/con list for each option is as follows;

Fence

• Pros
• Once installed privacy is achieved right away.
• No trimming required.
• Could install hooks and hang baskets for flowers or other small projects on the inner face of the fence.
• Cons
• Expensive.
• Must get a permit from the city along with written approval from all three neighbors.
• Construction of the fence in all likelihood would tear up at least the perimeter of the property.

Hedge

• Pros
• Added greenery.
• Comparably inexpensive.
• Don't believe any permit or other permission would be required, but will double check on this.
• Creates oxygen.
• Cons
• Time.  I am not sure how tall the plants are when they ship to me, other sites list about a foot and a half or so.  Even at the best case growth rate of 1' per year, it would be 5+ years before the hedge was as tall as the wood fence would be on day one.
• By taking down my current chain-link fence I would be making it that much easier for deer to spend time in my yard while the hedge grew up to a more defensible height.

I am currently leaning towards a hedge, as while it will take time to grow to the height I want, the less spent on the perimeter defenses the more I can spend on actual gardening projects.  Also the eventual greenhouse project is I'm sure going to cost quite a bit, so saving money on the border will help make that a reality a lot sooner.