How to soften impact of newly added garden cabin

Ivy2

See pic.

Used to be a Laburnum tree (sorry but tree had to go due to no working from home space inside house). 

Wondering if there is any planting I could do to soften it. Behind it my neighbour did have a large box hedge just on his side of fence but was wiped out by caterpillars so he removed it. I have a paved triangular space on my side right behind the cabin. I could put some large pot but would have to be very tall to be visible above the cabin. Any ideas on what I could plant there? Also, it's on a concrete base. Would you plant anything next to it in a mini border or just leave to lawn. Don't really want high maintenance. 

Finally, I have a galvanised wire trellis above the brick wall supported by 3 wooden fence posts. I was thinking of getting some extenders and adding another 50 cm in height. This would take it above neighbours fenceline (Behind cabin) is this prohibited/bad etiquette to have a trellis higher than fence line? The other house at the back of my border (left side of pic) wouldn't be affected since there is that structure but I would like to cover that with a higher trellis too. Got climbing roses, rambling roses, star jasmine, clematis, honeysuckle and climbing hydrangea (mostly planted in the last couple if years but should get bigger next summer). Would you raise the height of trellis?

GardenerSuze

Not sure you can put up a fence higher than 6ft. Do you need planning permission?

Ivy2

GardenerSuze said:

Not sure you can put up a fence higher than 6ft. Do you need planning permission?

I don't know. It's unusual because the neighbours are on higher land. Their lawn is where my brick wall ends. Then they have their fence. Guess I can't go above that then with a wire trellis? 

AnniD

There's a whole load of information here about fence height, but to cut to the chase, the maximum height includes any trellis.
https://www.stewart-timber.co.uk/maximum-fence-height-planning-permission/

Have you considered painting the cabin ? Maybe a "soft grey" or similar? 

Pete.8

Very smart new cabin!
I think if it were mine I'd plant some grasses in a mini-border outside the cabin if the aspect is right.
Something that doesn't spread much and remains upright all your round is Calamagrostis Karl Foerster and maybe some hakonechloa in between, and something that pops with color for the summer.
The gentle rustle of leaves is very calming and even in winter both the above grasses look good - just cut everything back to the ground in spring.  

JennyJ

Are you thinking about softening the impact from your viewpoint, or the neighbours'? Planting behind or raising the fence height won't do much for your view, and as has already been said, there's a limit on how high you can make the fence. The neighbours could plant something on their side if they don't like the view.  I'd make that bit of lawn at the side into a bed and plant something there. I like @Pete.8 suggestion of tall grasses.

GardenerSuze

Yes agree with @Pete.8 I think grasses are the way to go too as long as there is sun. Would be lovely to look out onto through the windows. C Overdam is another upright grass good all winter cut back end of February here in Notts may vary depending if you are further North or South. You could add Verbena Bonariensis if your soil is well draining. Knoll Gardens website will give you some ideas. 

Ivy2

Thanks @Pete.8 I like those. What would be a good plant for in between the grasses for summer colour. Any reds, violets, purples you can think of. It's partial shade but decent amount of sun until 3pm. Am in the north west of England.

@JennyJ so the view in my pic is the view from my house so I want to soften the view from my house not the view from inside the cabin. About the lawn at the side of the cabin, I did think about taking the border up to the cabin. Might do that and could plant another shrub there.

I may paint it grey. Its a long story, I treated it with clear osmo oil which keeps the natural look well. If I want to paint it now, I learnt that it wont take the pigment in the paint due to the osmo oil being applied. So may need to sand first before painting. I think I will leave it as is for a couple of years as is.

Point taken about the trellis. I will probably leave as is. Are there any climbers that once they reach the highest wire on the trellis would stand up for 50cm or so rather than just drooping down over the top wire?

Plantminded

Just another thought for you to consider - if the fence above the wall behind your shed was painted the same colour as the fence to the left of that section, your cabin would probably not stand out as much - the similar light unpainted wood is currently drawing your cabin forward visually.  Hope that makes sense! 

Also, as winter is approaching, I'd wait to make planting plans in the spring and then follow @Pete.8's suggestion above!  For an interim fix, I'd place an attractive container on your cabin's deck area outside the window on the left and plant it up with an attractive group of winter interest plants, like some of those listed here: Containers: winter selection / RHS Gardening

Hope that helps!

Pete.8

Verbena Bonariensis would give some tall stout pops of violet throughout the summer.
If it gets enough sun, some dahlias, which come in many colours. I grow Bishops Children from seed and find they are mostly shades of red.
Perennial phlox could provide colour for most of summer.
Or you could use annuals and change them each year for something a bit different.

GardenerSuze

@Ivy2 Cosmos Rubenza if deadheaded regularly would be a good idea for using as a summer annual good with grasses.