Jennifer Aniston’s Japanese Garden Is a Privacy Triumph – It's the Smartest Way to Screen a Yard Without Blocking a Drop of Sunlight

Ideally, our gardens should be private sanctuaries where we can relax and entertain away from prying eyes. For many gardeners, however, the reality is quite different – spending time outdoors can feel like living in a goldfish bowl when there is nothing to screen the plot from passers-by or neighboring windows. As we move into the bright, clear days of April 2026, finding that balance between seclusion and sunlight becomes a priority.

Jennifer Aniston's Japanese-inspired garden, designed by Marcello Villano, is a perfect example of how to manage planting for privacy while ensuring plenty of natural light still enters your property. There are many options for creating a solid, natural screen using fast-growing trees, densely-leaved privacy shrubs, and perennials. Within a few years, these plants will knit together to form a deep green boundary.

It is important to remember that fast-growing plants can spiral out of control if not maintained, and their dense shade can prevent anything else from growing beneath them. While they work well for expansive landscapes like Aniston's, smaller yards require more creative choices. Keeping plants pruned is essential, especially when preserving light is a factor.

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Do not automatically assume that your only option is to block the view entirely; think in terms of distraction as well. By planting a varied mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees of differing heights, colors, and textures, you can create a tapestry effect that serves as an attractive screen. This approach filters both the view and the light, allowing for beautiful spring underplanting. Though the goal is practical, the result should also be aesthetically pleasing.

Bamboo often receives negative attention for being an invasive plant. However, clump-forming varieties are much easier to manage and are invaluable for privacy. They meet many low-maintenance requirements and thrive in containers, which can also be used to help stop bamboo from spreading.

Another excellent choice is the evergreen California lilac, which provides year-round privacy and a stunning burst of late spring flowers. With its small, dark green leaves, ceanothus works well as a standalone specimen or for informal hedging plants along boundaries. These shrubs require minimal pruning and are highly regarded for their drought tolerance.

Pacific wax myrtle is another favorite for the 2026 growing season. This upright, fragrant evergreen is native to the West Coast of the US, fast-growing, and long-lived, making it ideal for hedging.

'As an alternative to more rigid and formal hedges, I love the evergreen Pacific wax myrtle for its dense yet wispy form,' says Oregon-based landscape architect and garden designer Bethany Rydmark. 'Its berries support birds, and the leaf texture is a pleasant alternative to boxwood.'

Rydmark notes that it grows quickly and withstands pruning or shearing, but it can also be left to grow as a softer, informal hedgerow. 'Pacific wax myrtle is likewise climate adaptable and more drought resistant than traditional hedges,' she adds.

Ultimately, the most effective strategy is to layer your planting. A combination of trees and shrubs creates an impressive depth that makes a space feel truly secluded.

In Aniston's garden, it is the depth as well as the height of the greenery that ensures the backyard remains a private retreat. You can also explore ornamental grasses for screening and living wall ideas to help achieve this layered look during the spring planting window.