Planters are a must-have on balconies if you want any kind of greenery. But with a bit of shopping around, you can find planters that serve other purposes. For example, you could use tall planters as a year-round privacy screen.
And that’s exactly what we’ve rounded up in this article. Below, you’ll find 7 planters that can double as privacy screens that are perfect for balconies.
Choosing the Best Privacy Planters
To choose these planters, we’ve used a few important criteria:
- They must be suitable for balconies (not too big or heavy)
- They’re tall or wide enough to provide privacy, regardless of whether they’ve got plants in them
- They’re suitable for different kinds of plants that work on balconies
Of course, you’ll need to narrow your own choices based on the size of your balcony, the type of railing you have, etc.
7 Balcony Planters that Can Double as Privacy Screens
1. Mueller Resin 24” Planter
These planters are a decent height (24”), so arranging a few in front of your railing should give you a suitable privacy screen. They have an interior pot that’s 11” deep, meaning they’re ideal for smaller plants.
Some options include:
- Privet bushes
- Ferns
- Annual flowers (petunia, nasturtium, etc.)
- Fruiting plants, such as strawberries
Their only real downside is that each pot is 11.5” wide. As such, you might need quite a few if you have a wide balcony.
2. Veradek Trough Planter
The Veradek planter is a long trough that stands 15.25” tall and 31” wide at the top. While it’s not much more than a foot tall, it’d be suitable as a privacy screen for a kid’s play area or pet area, or for lower seating arrangements.
Because of its size, you could easily use it for larger plants. For example, it would work well for bamboo or ornamental grass, both of which would provide year-round privacy. This would also help to add a bit more height to the privacy screen.
3. Best Choice Planter with Lattice
A good way to get extra height from a privacy screen planter is to find one with a lattice, such as this one from Best Choice. The planter and trellis stand at a total height of 48”, making it the tallest option so far. Also, each planter is 25” wide, so you’ll get a decent bit of coverage.
You can improve the lattice’s privacy in different ways. The first would be to grow plants up it – something like jasmine or a rose bush would provide some privacy in the winter. Another option is to attach a screen to the trellis, which would give you year-round privacy.
It might not be the best option for windy balconies, as the extra height could cause it to blow over if the planter is empty. Provided you keep soil in it over winter, it should be fine.
4. Yardistry Fusion Planter
This planter from Yardistry is pretty much made for this purpose! It combines a wood privacy screen with small planter boxes, which would be ideal for annual flowers like petunias, violas, etc.
The screen is folding, so you can arrange it in different ways on your balcony. Standing at 66” high, it’ll provide plenty of privacy for all kinds of balconies, too. There are small gaps between the slats, so it’ll let in some light.
As with the planter above, it won’t be great for windy balconies. Also, it’s quite pricey, but if you want a high-quality planter that’ll provide a lot of privacy, it’s a good option.
5. Yaheetech Trellis Planter with Wheels
This trellis planter from Yaheetech will be a good option for balconies because it’s on wheels. This’ll allow you to move it around your balcony as needed if you want privacy at different times of day or year.
It’s 50” tall, but the planter and trellis are the same height as the Best Choice option. The extra height comes from the wheel casters. The planter is made from fir, so it’s weather-resistant and can be left out all year.
In terms of plants, you could use it for pretty much anything. Options such as honeysuckle and jasmine would provide good privacy throughout the year. Although they lose their leaves, the stems will add privacy once the plants are established enough.
6. Veradek Medium Planter
If you want something that essentially provides a wall of privacy, this planter from Veradek could be a good option. It’s 30” high and 38” wide, so offers a lot of coverage. Luckily, it’s plastic, so it isn’t too heavy either.
You could use it to plant pretty much anything you want. It has a removable interior planter to help reduce the amount of soil you use. For bigger plants, you might want to take it out to give them enough root space.
Some options for this planter include:
- Ornamental grass
- Ferns
- Bamboo
- Boxwood hedge
- Annual flowers
There’s not much bad to say about this planter. It’s a bit pricey, but you hopefully won’t need many considering its size.
7. AGPL Artificial Hedge and Planter
Granted, this might be a bit of a cheat option, but artificial foliage is great for year-round privacy. Plus, this option from AGPL also includes a planter, so it technically fits on this list!
It’s 48” high and 48” wide, so provides good coverage. Unlike the other planters above, you won’t have to worry about compensating for the lack of plants in the winter. While it’s the most expensive option on this list, you don’t have to worry about any upkeep or replanting.
Final Thoughts
Combining a planter and privacy screen is a great way to maximize space on your balcony. As you can see, there are plenty of routes you can take to achieve this.
Choosing the best option for your balcony will depend on how much height you need and the type of plants you want to use. There should be a suitable option on this list, but if not, use it as a jumping-off point for your own research.