I've got a DIY project I want to do - get a bunch of those cheap planters (12" or taller), connect them together base to base, paint the color desired, fill one half with concrete and the other half with plants, and you've got yourself series of inexpensive, cool tall planter.

Potted plants in teracotta pots look wonderful. Fall is on the way so you can start with bulbs that bloom in spring like tulips. However, backyard furniture should be on sale. A table and umbrella or an inexpensive tent like gazebo thingy will sheild you from your neighbors.

http://www.colorblends.com

http://www.backyardcity.com/Shade-Sails.htm

Get rolls of bamboo fencing and attach it to the chain link (at least in the back) with wire or zip ties or something and then camoflage with tall plants (some evergreens) in colorful planters. If you can't afford a lot of tall plants and larger planters, use plant stands, tables etc. to get height. Also, hang some plants off any decks and the fence.

An outdoor rugs and/or some decking tiles laid over the concrete would make it warmer as well.

ive been dying to do this planter featured on AT, i think it would work well here, be affordable, and succulents are traditionally easy for people to take care of (forgiving if you forget to water them)

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/gardening/modern-diy-outdoor-planter-093540

Lots of potted plants would probably be the cheapest.

Try container gardening and bamboo screen with some party lights.

I'd start with some kind of a fence against that chain link, maybe something as simple as wooden slats mounted horizontally. If there's room to plant, buy some vines (like the ones on the side) and train them to grow along that new fence. That will give you more privacy and the look of a room.
Your other obvious solution is potted plants. The problem with them is that they dry out, so if you go that route, make sure you get big pots, with room for the plant to grow, and water/feed often. You could try evergreens or boxwood for year-round greenery. In the spring an inexpensive option is colorful bursts of petunias, which will give you color from early summer to fall.

There are great outdoor rugs, Mad Mats, that aren't killer on cost.

I think the trellis idea is really good since you can buy a ready made at the box hardware stores for cheap. And yes, come kind of climbing plant would be lovely. I would not usually recommend english ivy as it's a horrible invasive, but since this is clearly and urban space and no trees to suffer from its presence I would suggest it. It is evergreen, a fast grower and super hardy.

I love morning glories as climbers, they are just a joy, but they will die off in winter and leave your view open again.

Since it's coming on winter and you probably won't be using the back much longer I would suggest spending on blocking the fence view now and save for the spring for potted plants and furniture.

Oh, and you could ask the landlord if it would be ok to paint or stain the concrete. Just a thought.

I have the same exact sitch in East Williamsburg, the possibilities are endless:

www.igrewthis.wordpress.com

Lathe-type trellises from Walmart for $12 or twig ones inserted into planters (if there is no soil near that bare wire fence) could be used to start fast-growing annual hops (or maybe perennial silver lace vine). These could be streched over wires to the opposite side of the patio to give you a cozy sheltering privacy eventually. I like the angled umbrellas idea which would work to combat the intrusion from upper stories of those apartments.

You may want to look into square foot gardening, might be a good option for a portion of your space. I think my roomie and I are going to try it out on the side of our building next year. We're probably going to hunt down some discarded bookshelves in the alleyway next spring and convert them to the container gardens for it. I wish we had as much space as you guys have - can't wait to see what you do with it. I like honey living's suggestion of a fire pit so you can enjoy it this fall!!

Planters and pots in various sizes. If you want to cover up concrete, there is always myriad choices of gravel, grass squares and modular deck tiles.

Trellises (as someone mentioned) or bamboo potted in planters all around the perimeter would be a great way of hiding the chain link fence!

wow, what a great place for entertaining. not so private, but it could be a real fun space with a little cash and a lot of imagination.

I have a similar situation and no budget. Here are my ideas that worked great. I got a concrete stain from home depot (25 bucks) and stained squares into the concrete. Took a weekend, looks great. It made the concrete look custom and interesting. You could do any pattern that is your style. I like modern, so I got aluminum sheets from the salvage yard and cut circles in them for fun. Hung them right on the existing fence with Christmas lights behind. Totally cool and totally private. Then I got galvanized aluminum tubs from a hardware store (the match the fence closely) and put plants in them. Then, some orange chairs and orange tables from Ikea for a pop of color. Good luck, your space has great possibilities!

A agree w/ lots of plants in gigantic oversized pots - wee little pots aren't going to do you a lick of good. Some paper lanterns hung on bamboo poles would be nice too...

As far as privacy - Who cares? It's not like it's your bedroom...

darciekd - pictures? :)

Lots and lots of potted plants.

Bigger is definitely better for potted plants, both for aesthetics and for ease of care. I know I went into sticker shock the first time I went to a nursery and looked at the prices on their large pots though, so it's important to think outside the box. Any container that holds soil and that you can drill holes in the bottom of for drainage can work. Enamorada's idea of putting smaller plants up on tables to create height variation is a trick I use a lot too.

A tip for choosing what to plant - look around you, at your neighbors yards, or anywhere there are plants. Any plant you seem to see everywhere is probably hard to kill.

Oh my goodness! If this were my space I'd spend all winter plotting and scheming and buying discount planters!

Right now, in the fall I'd be snapping up sales: one or 2 of the cheapest patio umbrellas or one of those outdoor tent bug house deals I could find, to make a private spot. Or those sunshades- anything that creates a cover over some portion of the lot. Cheapo wicker furniture too. Planters, planters planters, seeds, anything that they're getting rid of right now for fall.

In actual site improvement, I'd probably stencil some portion of the concrete with some kind of moorish tile pattern- separating out the floor areas, or I'd go for some fake turf, depending on whether your aesthetic runs more classy artsy or kitchsy ironic. But either would probably look sick. I'd put in a few raised beds for veggies come spring in a sunny spot- probably towards the back of the lot, because who cares if the neighbors see you weeding? Or if building beds is not your thing, I'd go for straw bale gardening it's extremely simple and my friends did that and it looks really nice.

If my landlord was cool, I might find out if I could sledgehammer the concrete, then I'd smash it up and put moss or baby's tears in the cracks- that and some stain and it would look more like flagstone than tennis court.

And yes, yes, yes to morning glories on the back fence- they grow really well in summer, flower for nearly the whole time and are hardy as all get out.

I am envious.

For out door lighting.....I would do lanterns with little tea lights.... you can hang them from things and run along the ground.... all different sizes.... it makes outdoors much more inviting...(Marshall's on 125th street sometimes has a great selection for not so much money)
and maybe go to your nearest fire department...and ask about a nice fire pit this way you can have outdoor fun in the wintertime as well...
maybe just surround the edges with flower boxes (large) and benches... for additional seating....
ENJOY!

I'd echo the comments to put up a fence for fall and climbing plants asap. However, as a container gardender for the last 3 years, I have to say that container gardening is fun- but super limited. It takes MUCH more water and fertilizing than regular gardening and you are quite limited in the size and health of the plants you can enjoy. If I were you, I'd bite the bullet and ask your landlord: 1. if they will jackhammer the concrete out for you, or 2. pay for a rental of a jackhammer and you do the DYI, or 3. if they mind if you do it at your own cost. ( rentals at Home depot are less than 50 bucks a day) You don't even have to take ALL of the concrete out , just some. That way your investment of soil, time, money, effort, and plants will result in a much more robust and permanent garden rather than a maintenance intensive container garden. There is free fill all over craigslist to build your soil, and that way you have control over the entire design. Between the containers, fertilizing, and soil , container gardening gets expensive very fast, whereas if you have actual roots in actual deep soil, you will get much more bang for your planting buck. Just my 2 cents.

I would do something funky that plays off the urban feel, rather than tries to mask it. You can get some colored privacy slats for the fence (this is just one site- I didn't look around for prices http://www.discountfence.com/Slats/aluminum%20slats.htm). I like the idea of Christmas lights and a few plants if you can afford them. But I'd spend my money on a big table and comfortable chairs- you're friends will be delighted no matter what it looks like!

I'd try containers and raised beds. Two good how-to sites:

http://gardengirltv.com/
http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

Garden Girl focuses specifically on urban gardening.

Since it looks like you've already got some Ivy there growing I'd suggest you use trellis to your advantage and build your garden and privacy structure such that the Ivy can be trained to grow on it and provide greater privacy.

With all that space, some trees in giant planters in each corner would be nice (like those at the Mondrian Hotel in LA), with some smaller greenery in between.

Side note, does anyone know where to find planters this size?

http://www.mondrianhotel.com/#/explore/?id=asiadecuba

Howdy neighbor- we live above you on the third floor. I was disappointed they used concrete on the whole area. Hope you guys find a solution- and enjoy your backyard!

lots and lots of bamboo and grasses - it looks chique, its cheap and you don't have to do any gardening.

For the fences, plant whatever nice vines you can get ahold of. Morning glories are a great place to start. For year round cover ivy works well, but it does take over. A clematis here and there growing amongst the ivy could probably do well, that way you'd have year round cover and flowers too.

For the concrete... it's not incredibly budget friendly, but with my decently sized patio I've come to the conclusion that it's worth it to invest in large rectangular planters. Start with just one, with the option to buy more of the same kind if you like. Plant whatever you want in it, you'll learn from experience. A hose will make watering easier, especially if you expand beyond one planter, even if you need to hook it up to your kitchen sink.

So with those planters you could have bamboo or a similar tall thick plant to add visual variety. Or you could have a mini vegetable and/or herb garden. Or you could plant flowers. The individual planters can be like miniature gardens. Since you'd start with one, while large good quality planters aren't cheap, if you add one per year or something, the cost is spread out.

You could also use earthboxes or make your own planters by taking a box of whatever kind and making drainage holes.

A couple of thoughts:

1) Use bamboo poles to hold up a few rows of Christmas lights overhead. It definitely makes for a great vibe. I found bamboo for free in a nearby creek and got like 135 feet of Christmas lighting for $22.

2) Terracotta is expensive and not really necessary. Just having plants in any containers is great. I love people using old milk cartons for pots. Mix it up and have fun with it. Also, people get rid of pots and cheap plants on craigslist all the time.

3) Incorporate your interests and your own style. You have so much space that you can take advantage of. Dedicate space for a portable basketball hoop or a ping pong table or a pool table or an outdoor mural or to play Twister or to meditate or to do yoga or buy a jump rope or chalk in hopscotch.

4) Lastly, don't feel like you have to use the entire space all at once or that you have to have privacy from your neighbors. If you do something cool, it's a great way to meet your neighbors. Covering the fence is great, but just remember it also cages you in.

Forgot one.

5) Before it gets cold, borrow a projector from work/school/friend/etc. and hang a sheet out there and screen a movie.