Privacy Screening
daniel.watts
Posts: 15
in Plants
All,
I moved into a new-build a couple of
years ago, and I'd like to start creating a privacy screen between
ourselves and the house over the road (pictured).
So
far I've got a Lilac (Beauty of Moscow), a Magnolia Grandiflora (dwarf
version), and a camellia (nearest the camera) which I hope will provide a
degree of privacy in a few years. I also plan to plant a small tree to
the left of the bench. Unfortunately the California lilac, as well as
the lavender next to it, will need to come out as it's simply not going
to grow anywhere near tall enough. Any advice on what I can put in its
place? Something 3-4m, ideally Evergreen but it's not mandatory.
Aspect wise this is a southerly facing wall, and whatever I plant along this wall will get the sun pretty much all day long.
Your insight, as always, will be gratefully received.
0
Posts
For something of that space and for what you want, take a look at Ligustrum Japonicum. In extreme cold weather, they can be semi evergreen which I think is useful since a dense cover can cause too much shade. There are variegated versions if you want to add contrast.
1. Your borders are narrow. If you plant shrubs of any kind which will grow tall, they will also encroach a lot out from the wall and onto your lawn. You need to be prepared for that.
2. If you plant trees instead, then you will need to look for trees with a columnar shape - any other and they will encroach on your neighbours gardens. I would also be wary of the roots impacting on your walls. And they will take many years to make any kind of screening.
The long and the short of it is: you bought a house which you knew would be surrounded by other houses - privacy is in short commodity in that situation. The best idea is as suggested - to build a pergola over your seating area or to have your seating area against the party wall.
And another option along the lines of though not a pergola, some very large sturdy posts with maybe a rope swag with climbers.
Coming into the garden rather than close up to the boundary, you don't need such tall stuff to screen or break up that view.
With well placed simple big poles or a tall chunky obelisk. or a cross topped pole or three. You could use climbers to good effect, more controllable, and unlike trees if cut back when too big they often look better and recover.
You already have the lovely big clematis montana underway, just give it something to climb on to train it further into the garden away from the wall. If a montana needs to be cut back do it immediately after flowering they will grow new flowering shoots for the following year.
It may turn out to be too big in the long run I think they look best growing up big tree or along that whole wall it would be quite capable and fantastic.
And do remember that although we often feel like we are being overlooked, in reality most people are too busy with life to stand staring out at you. Unless you love sunbathing nude and don't want to scare the neighbours (Tongue firmly in cheek ).
Good Luck
Other alternatives:
Passion Flower grows quick and once established works well, Russian Vine is called "mile a minute" for good reasons.
Virginia creeper is another type = wonderful reds in autumn. All these can be kept in had with a pair of shears.
Lastly a Vine. Vines can be useful as screens and can give fruit. Personally vine would be my choice. If it is trained correctly it can give wonderful fruits and will obscure views during the summer when you are out in the garden, it also gives good autumn colour. They grow very well and long if allowed.
For any of these options, and for the one's you have established, if you get a stout plastic garden netting and attach it to the walls, any climber could also cover some of the brickwork in between the trellis's you have.
Lots of things to think about before you start planting.