Wind protection v field view

beckyjlt

We have a long south-facing border which adjoins a neighbouring field, with a chain-link fence (which we have to keep).  Parts of the border are quite close to the house (2m).  I'd like plant something which will give us a bit of protection against the prevailing wind which comes across the field, but I don't want to completely lose the view of the field.  Any suggestions?!

Guernsey Donkey2

We are just trying to overcome similar problems with our field, the neighbour is building houses and we don't particularly want to see them.

If you want wind protection I would suggest planting a dense hedge. Something like privet or escallonia although there are many other types of hedging available, some are far more wildlife friendly providing food and nesting areas for the birds.

 A tree screen could cast too much shadow into your garden.   Take a look at the area at different times of the day, try to envisage how the shade of any planting would effect your garden since parts of the border are only 2 metres from your house. Knock a wooden stake (same height as anything planted) along the border, watching how the shadow moves during the day.

We wanted some tall specimen trees planted on our border but then realized that they would cast huge shadows in our field, but also give us the privacy that we wanted. We have compromised with tall and shorter planting to add more interest.  Good Luck

beckyjlt

Thanks - yes potential shade is an issue.  I would like to do something wildlife friendly without being too intrusive..

Rubytoo

How high is the chain link?
And is it your fence,  as in you own it.

Just wondered if you could experiment a bit by using some windbreak / shade netting material attached to the fence. It would also be useful when you decide what to plant to give new plantings some protection until taller.
Is it a very windy site?

beckyjlt

Yes the fence is ours - it's about 4ft high.  It's not overly windy most of the time, but being in East Anglia, when it is windy it does howl across the field!

Lizzie27

I'd have a mix of native hedging plants along the border, leaving some gaps and varying the heights from 4ft to ?.  See if you can work out from where you look at the view most often i.e. kitchen window, washing line, or outside chairs and put the shorter plants there, with the taller plants where it won't matter too much. Leaving some gaps means you can have viewpoints you can walk up to, with possibly paths leading to them. Any vegetation helps to break the force of the wind.

raisingirl

I'd go for a mixed native hedge, as Lizzie suggests and be selective about how you cut it - hedging plants by definition will cope with being cut back regularly, or kept to a limited size. There's not much that's better than a mixed hedge for wildlife - nor any better wind break. And if you find the wind is whipping round a particular corner, you can let the hedge grow a little higher there, or inter-plant a dog rose, a honeysuckle or some ivy to thicken it up.

I have an extremely windy garden. Wind break netting just gets shredded here - too windy