Ideas on planting for privacy at rear of garden

jonathanlcarpenter

We have moved to a house and looking to enhance the rear garden. We have dug a side border and looking at plants for the sides, but the main issue is with the rear. It feels overlooked so we are hoping to try and get some privacy. As you will see there is garage nearby so we don't want anything that will effect the foundations.
We have an arbour which will place in the middle of the rear fencing, so looking mainly for plants for the Right Hand side between the arbour and the garage. Also looking for plants to grow up the side of the arbour. We are happy to buy larger plants as we don't want to wait years to get the privacy. We were thinking evergreen for the privacy so we have all year privacy. Any ideas and suggestions would be fantastic. It is South East facing rear garden.
As you can see I am trying to dig out the old tree root which was there originally but blew done before we bought the house.

Obelixx

I would suggest a pergola along the back fence and up to the garage with the arbour either in front of it or integrated.  The structure will give you some year round privacy.   

Then it's a case of choosing climbers suited to your soil and the aspect.  Lots of clematis and roses to choose from for an extended season of interest - some clems flower in winter - and then there are honeysuckles, wisteria, grapes........

Borderline

How wide and how deep will this arbour be? It's hard to imagine the types of plants due to the depth. Being south east facing, I imagine the back fence would be north west aspect which can be a bit shaded. The stump at the back may need looking into as the roots may affect shrubs or any plants you choose to grow there. 

Do you know the soil type in your garden? 

Below are some good all-round evergreen shrubs that suits that area. Viburnum Tinus,  Choisya Ternata, Sarcoccoca Confusa, Eunymous Japonicus and Prunus Lusitanica.

For the arbour Clematis Cirrhosa, especially Freckles provides welcome colour in the most bleakest of months against evergreen leaves. 

jonathanlcarpenter

Thanks or all the suggestions so far. The arbour is about 6ft wide and 3ft wide at the base. So we are just laying three large flagstones for it, so it does eat into the grass and make the garden smaller. It will be placed in the middle so we will remove the two smaller plants there. I'm hoping to dig out the root at the weekend. Hoping to dig out all the roots apart form the ones that go under the grass and under the fence.
Really sorry but I have no idea of the soil type, sorry. 

Obelixx

Don't plant anything till you know what soil type you have.   Some plants won't thrive at all in the wrong soil.   have a read of these articles from the RHS - 

Soil type - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=179

Soil care - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/plant-care/soil-care 

DampGardenMan

Evergreen clematis (C. armandii) is great for privacy if it likes your soil and aspect. Nice white flowers in the spring too.

Whatever you do, don't plant Russian Vine! It'll be in the next county before you know it.

And if I can bang my favourite drum once more, consider adding a few curves to the garden, e.g. to the lawn edges. Nothing "frilly", just gently sweeping curves.

Fire

If you have a bit of money, you could consider buying mature trees - not enormous but could work well if the garden is looking north. Perhaps something tall and slim like some silver birches. Just a thought.

AnniD

You can buy a soil testing kit at the Garden centre, easy to use, just follow instructions on pack. 

DampGardenMan

 A quick ballpark "figure" can be had here -

http://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/

but be aware that local conditions may create local variations.