Everygreen screening help!

malteser

Hi all
Looking for ideas for tall evergreen shrubs/trees for my garden please.  I have built raised bed and put some in, but its nothing like what I need.  I want to be surrounded by greenery! I almost bought a beautiful silver birch last year for the corner, but was concerned it would be too close to the neighbouring house, so didn't go ahead with it.  Looking to screen brick walls of neighbouring houses (so concerned about tree size and roots) and block the view of houses. I need height and some interest and trying to bring the birds in...

I attached some photos.  I'm happy to rip the raised beds out again, so all suggestions welcome!

Thanks all

pansyface

Unfortunately, anything really tall such as a tree will need roots of a similar size to anchor it to the ground. So trees will cause problems with foundations if they are too close to them. 

A really nice shrub that I have in my garden is an Eleagnus. They come in different colours and not all are guaranteed evergreen.  I have this one (an evergreen) and it is now about 3.5 metres tall and, at the moment, it is covered in tiny, fragrant flowers.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/361207/Elaeagnus-x-submacrophylla-Limelight-(v)/Details

robairdmacraignil

Cotoneaster, photinia red robin, amelanchier, sorbus aucuparia, pittosporum tenuifolium silver queen.....

Borderline

I can't see what the shrubs are but you may also need a bit of patience. Shrubs will eventually grow tall and wide. There are good suggestions already, but maybe break up the colour with shrubs/trees like Cotinus Coggygria. Very adaptable as a shrub or tree depending on how you prune them.

Excess evergreen shrubs can also make a small/medium size garden feel hard and make it quite dark. A variegated Italian Buckthorn, Rhamnus Alaternus 'Argenteovariegata' if pruned carefully can look interesting if you have a sheltered warm spot.