Trees for planting near to connifers

G438

Please forgive me if you have had a similar question to this before but I am new to gardening let alone the forum!
We have a small garden which is overlooked by the houses that back onto ours and one neighbour who has conifers has had then cut to about 8ft so our privacy has gone.
I am considering planting a tree/s that I can control that will block the view from his upstairs windows and am seeking advice as to what to get.
Ideally due to the small size of the garden I do not want anything that grows huge or extremely high (10ft ish would do) and of course it needs to be able to compete with the conifers.
On the same note I am looking for advice on plants? bushes that I can grow beneath the tree that again can compete with the conifers and make the garden more attractive  for us and wildlife.

I don't want much do I?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Fairygirl

There are endless threads here about conifers and the problems they cause, and of being overlooked.
Unless you have sufficient rain to keep the ground moist, most things will struggle to establish and thrive near conifer hedges.

In a small garden it's even harder. It's easier to create a focal point further in. That does two things. It doesn't need to be so big, because of perspective, and it focuses your eyes down into your own plot rather than looking up at the conifers. It's also easier to establish a shrub or small tree, but something very 'solid' should be avoided. Trees or shrubs with lighter canopies are better.

The other way of doing it is to build a screen or pergola and plant climbers to give privacy. If you start trying to block a view at that height, you need something very large, and you'll end up with a very dark garden. 

Dovefromabove

I echo everything @Fairygirl has said.  A pergola or a screen is the way forward to protect your privacy while still retaining a useable garden for you.  Perhaps Fairy would post a photo of the screen she built in her garden ... it's really attractive and screens her garden very well.  

Fairygirl

You're too kind @Dovefromabove


This  was from a few years ago, it's had a few alterations in front of it, and to the planting, since then, but you get the idea.
The bit of fence on the right has planting on it now too, but that's essentially the sort of view beyond the boundary. The greenery behind the screen is buddleia and other things in a border, and there's a four foot path between it and the screen. The screen is about 8 feet from the boundary fence.
It's a simple construction - posts concreted in, horizontal timbers and roofing battens attached. It now has a 'top' on it too.

I wish the grass looked like that just now! 

G438

Dear both
Many thanks certainly food for thought