If you use the garden for a lot of dining/parties etc, then a pergola/screen is the answer. I made one [ although not for those reasons] but if you bring it inside the existing boundary by a couple of feet, you can easily have it at about 6 feet in height, and use climbers on it for some light screening. Unless you have dense evergreens on it, that will still allow light ,and prevent the space seeming dark and too enclosed. You're looking for something that doesn't really exist if you're reluctant to have shrubs or hedging or similar to block anyone looking in, but won't block the light. It really isn't possible. The best way to screen a higher building etc, is to have smaller trees/shrubs further in to your property, but you don't have the width in the lawn to do that.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If your children use the garden as a football pitch please get them a goal net thingummy 🥅 and ensure it’s not against a neighbouring fence. Even easy-going Dove had to shout ‘steady on lads, mind my fence! one day as the ball repeatedly thudded loudly shaking (and cracking) the panels … an apologetic Dad then popped round and said it was him, not the boys … they were more on target than he was 🤣
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Sorry if I’ve not been clear @zugenie@Fairygirl, it’s not the patio that’s the problem- at least in terms of privacy- you’re right, they can only see the patio if they lean out of the windows. The problem is that the depth of the patio below the lawn creates a massive open space that means they have a clear sight line into the lawn and to the end of the garden where we want to build and office/gym garden building. There is currently a 4ft wall with a 6ft fence on top at the side of the patio, and this doesn’t even start to bridge the gap. A pergola or screen on the patio wouldn’t create any privacy unless it was at least 12-14 feet high! So to use a tree it would have to a) be massive and b) be in a pot. I’m thinking some sort of potted enormous bamboo might work?
It’s the whole lawn they can see, not just the end @Loxley. The exposed section is through the gap created by the sunken patio. Even with a massive wall and fence it is a completely bare gap with nothing blocking the view- I’m also very conscious that I can see right into their garden from all our upstairs windows - our upstairs is basically the same level as their lawn and there is nothing blocking the view as it’s higher than the fence. I’m not sure if my drawing is good enough, and I’m really trying to explain as best I can but don’t seem to be making myself very clear, so sorry if I haven’t explained it well. I need to find a way to screen the south west corner of the patio but it’d have to be about 14+ feet high!
Yes you can't screen the whole thing, what I was trying to get over is that you should prioritise the areas you want screening the most, for instance the office/gym building you mentioned.
As I think you must realise, it's not plausible to erect a 14ft high screen in the corner of the patio, and you say you can't plant a large tree, so many of us are just saying perhaps you need to re-evaluate whether you have to have the entire garden screened, or create screened zones within it.
@loxley I was hoping people would be able to direct me to articles and/or photos of gardens built in a slope away from the house so I could see some successful schemes, and maybe some suggestions of tall fast growing plants that can be grown in pots.
Clumping bamboo gets tall quite quickly. Make sure its clumping though or you'll have it everywhere. I have a run of Clumping bamboo between myself and the neighbours wall which gives us both privacy and as they go straight up no problems with leaning into neighbours garden. I thin out every year and use the cut bamboos for all sorts of things in the garden.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
If you want something that grows to that sort of height quickly, I'd agree that bamboo is a possibility but the pot is going to need to be big enough to support the root system as it expands - whether it's a clumping bamboo or a running bamboo.
A robust raised bed may be worth considering. I grow several bamboos, both clumping and running, in the ground, but I keep a close eye on their progress and prune the canes and any adventurous roots meticulously every year.
It won't be a problem growing a running bamboo in a pot or raised bed as the container will restrict the roots and you'll find that they generally grow more quickly and higher than clumping bamboos.
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectablis is an attractive bamboo which would suit a large pot or raised bed. It's classified as a running bamboo but it behaves well in my free draining sandy soil. This is a plant I have had for over 9 years and in a tight space which is restricted by a sandstone seam not far beneath the soil surface:
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I made one [ although not for those reasons] but if you bring it inside the existing boundary by a couple of feet, you can easily have it at about 6 feet in height, and use climbers on it for some light screening. Unless you have dense evergreens on it, that will still allow light ,and prevent the space seeming dark and too enclosed.
You're looking for something that doesn't really exist if you're reluctant to have shrubs or hedging or similar to block anyone looking in, but won't block the light. It really isn't possible.
The best way to screen a higher building etc, is to have smaller trees/shrubs further in to your property, but you don't have the width in the lawn to do that.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As I think you must realise, it's not plausible to erect a 14ft high screen in the corner of the patio, and you say you can't plant a large tree, so many of us are just saying perhaps you need to re-evaluate whether you have to have the entire garden screened, or create screened zones within it.
I have a run of Clumping bamboo between myself and the neighbours wall which gives us both privacy and as they go straight up no problems with leaning into neighbours garden. I thin out every year and use the cut bamboos for all sorts of things in the garden.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
you could do pleached trees along the fence and around to the top of the retaining wall?
Alternatively is it possible to do something similar to what the neighbours on the other side have as that seems to work for them?
A robust raised bed may be worth considering. I grow several bamboos, both clumping and running, in the ground, but I keep a close eye on their progress and prune the canes and any adventurous roots meticulously every year.
It won't be a problem growing a running bamboo in a pot or raised bed as the container will restrict the roots and you'll find that they generally grow more quickly and higher than clumping bamboos.
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectablis is an attractive bamboo which would suit a large pot or raised bed. It's classified as a running bamboo but it behaves well in my free draining sandy soil. This is a plant I have had for over 9 years and in a tight space which is restricted by a sandstone seam not far beneath the soil surface: