Artificial boxwood living wall for an apartment security gate in Los Angeles, CA

A Los Angeles property management team needed tenant privacy quickly without making a brand-new security gate look like an add-on. CalifauxScapes designed and installed a 360 sq ft artificial boxwood living wall using UV-stabilized materials for a dense, natural-looking finish.

Overview

At this Los Angeles apartment complex, the property management team wanted to take the edge off a newly installed security gate while giving tenants more privacy. The goal wasn't decoration for its own sake; it was to make a daily access point feel considered and easier to live with.

CalifauxScapes installed a 360 sq ft artificial living wall with artificial boxwood hedge coverage. The project went from selection to site verification to install in about 3 weeks, using UV-stabilized materials chosen to hold color and texture under bright Southern California sun.

The challenge

The new security gate handled controlled access, but it created open sightlines into the property. Tenants could feel exposed, and the gate read more utilitarian than the rest of the exterior.

The client needed something that could screen views immediately and still look clean up close. And in Los Angeles, sun exposure is a real constraint: anything mounted outdoors needs to be UV-rated so it doesn't fade fast or get brittle.

They also wanted a finish that didn't look like a patch. On something as visible as the main gate, seams, gaps, and mismatched panel lines jump out.

Our solution

We worked with the point of contact to narrow options around three practical checks: density (privacy), realism (how it looks from the sidewalk), and durability outdoors. Artificial boxwood fit best because it creates a tight, leafy surface that blocks views without looking chunky.

Then we approached it like a custom living wall, not an off-the-shelf panel install. Rather than trying to make modular hedge panels "close enough," we confirmed measurements on-site and planned custom hedge sheets to match the gate geometry for a cleaner finish.

UV stabilization wasn't optional here. UV stabilization is a treatment that helps prevent fading and material breakdown from sunlight, which matters on exterior gates that take direct exposure.

Implementation

We started with a site visit to confirm real-world measurements and catch the details that usually cause issues later: posts, framing, hinges, and any spots where clearance matters. We gathered what we needed to fabricate custom hedge sheets for the gate area and keep on-site cutting to a minimum.

Once the custom pieces were ready, our team installed the artificial boxwood living wall to create a tight, even face. The priorities were a clean perimeter, consistent foliage direction, and minimal visible seams so the gate looked built that way, not "covered."

Timeline: about 3 weeks from kickoff to completion (subject to scheduling and site access).

Results

The finished artificial living wall added immediate privacy at the gate by cutting down direct sightlines into the property. For tenants, the entry feels less exposed without adding anything that needs watering, trimming, or seasonal swaps.

Visually, the artificial boxwood hedge reads as a dense, believable green surface that works with the building's exterior. The gate kept its function, but the street-facing view looks cleaner and more put-together.

Because UV-stabilized materials were specified for this Los Angeles exterior application, the client is set up for better color consistency over time than non-UV-rated greenery.

Project details