Something to cover side of neighbours house
mrsail
Posts: 5
Hi All,
Moved into a new build and at a loss with what to do to cover up side of a neighbours double story garage side that faces our living room...
So want something that looks minimal, ideally I would of liked 3 trees planted maybe a metre away as garden is so small like a himalayan silver birch but not sure this would be a good idea as it would be so close to foundations....?
Looking for ideas... I really don't like conifers! so looking for something with ideally with leaves that has good cover?... something I can buy small and grow over a few years.
See pics/plan... (very small!)
0
Posts
This is a tricky one as Alan Titchmarsh who's opinion i trust advises not to plant a tree any closer than 15 ft from any building.I hope you receive some useful advice from more experienced contributors!
Would your neighbours mind you growing some sort of climber on the wall.
Something like Virginia creeper or climbing Hydrangea that actually clings to the wall,you would of course have to keep it in check but access to the wall seems quite easy.
Or maybe you could have something that grows up a trellis,some plants can get quite tall.Once again you would need to talk to your neighbour.
If you get permission that is quite a wall to work with!
It's not safe to plant trees too close to a wall. Most shrubs and climbers will need to be planted away from teh wall base as it will have a drying effect and stress them for moisture. Nor do you want self clinging plants like ivy and hydrangea as they may lead to dispurtes with your neighbours and will leave unsightly root marks if pulled down.
Better perhaps to erect tall posts at 6'/2m-ish intervals along the wall and stretch galvanised or green wire across according to preference. You need to buy tensioners to make it very taut. Do this by drilling holes through at 12"/30cm intervals to make a horizontal framework to support a couple of repeat flowering rambling roses - David Austin offer a few now - and a clematis or two. Other climbers to consider are honeysuckle and winter flowering jasmine. Summer flowering jasmine and campsis if you are in a mild area. If the aspect is right you could try grape and/or kiwi vines.
With a judicious mix, you should cover the wall for most of the year and get some colour and perfume for you plus food and shelter for birds and insects.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
BAMBOOS GROWN IN A RAISED BED LINED WITH PLASTIC TO STOP THE ROOTS ESCAPING?
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
how about acers? They are quite minimal looking
I'd go with the trellis / post and straining wires suggestion. Nothing then directly affecting the neighbours property so there can't be disputes later. As others have said, trees really aren't a practical proposition in this case.
Thanks for replys!
yes a trellis is a good idea, and thanks it answers my question of asking neighbours to put up a trellis on house as it could cause damage, it could potential make it look really nice and modern (Im a designer so thats what really matters!)... but was worried I would not get it high enough and also cost alot...
The bamboo is a good idea also.... I went to a specialist nursery today and they recommended "semiarundinaria fastuosa" which will gets to 8m high!.. they said it doesn't spread like wildfire compared to other bamboo but wondered what people think? does it need a plastic lining still? is there any others that would work well?
I would be very nervous of planting a bamboo, described by the RHS as 'vigorous' anywhere near a house. The only way I would consider it is if it was contained in some way. For example by digging down a couple of feet and enclosing in paving slabs set on edge to stop runners spreading. I know it's also described as clump forming, but a plant which will grow that high needs to be tamed.
We have some very tall clumps of bamboo in this garden which we moved into in October. It is desperately dull except when a gale is blowing it over horizontally and whipping it about.
I think that if you put a line of 3m high posts and wires or post and trellis in a continuation from the curved olive coloured boundary you show on your diagram then plant it up, your sight line/perspective form house to seating height and even standing height in the garden will mean that much of the wall is masked and you will be looking, in any case at your plants.
You could also ask maybe about painting the wall and then you could go for a simple colour, bands of colour, trompe l'oeuil and all sorts with your designery bits.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw