I have the same problem as our home is the ground and basement floors of an old town house, we were very overlooked by next door and the flat above looked into our garden. I've planted bamboo in an old water butt to give it enough Depth and built a curved screen from fence posts and put a top bar along it. I then built a bench attached to the screen, ( I call it a purgola, not really a proper one but does the same job) not over looked now and much move intimate cosy feel to the garden 😊 best of luck with what ever you try. I'll try and post a picture to show you what I mean
I would also suggest overhead screening. How about a grape vine trained over a wooden or metal pergola type frame work, roots would need to be planted in the garden and the top growth trained towards the house. Might make your downstairs a bit dark in the summer though. Or wisteria, lovely pendulous sweet scented flowers. A tracleospermum jasminoides? (spelling) could grow in a large container, evergreen, sweet scented flowers at this time of the year. Do not be put off by the name, it is a very well behaved twiner. I have two in my garden but beware you do not buy a variegated one which is very slow growing with unscented flowers, as I did, persuaded by the variegated leaves.
Or how about buying a nice big sun shade umbrella doobrey, so you can screen the windows when you sit out but take it down to avoid shading your house when you're not outside. It doesn't have to be a permanent screen
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
The best thing I did was sit in the area of my garden that I most wanted screening and look from there at where you need to block views. I found that it's not always best to plant the screening at the edge wanting it to grow up, I put the purgola up near the centre of the garden which blocks the view more effectively without blocking the light from the garden.
It's a bit rustic but I'm keen on working with reclaimed items, this was fence posts, logs and pallets, these pictures were last year, it's now covered in honeysuckle and Jasmine and screens very effectively 😊
Thank you MrsGlaze 😊 the bench faces the bird feeding area too so excellent views for me and entertainment for the cats! The feeders are in a rambling rose so looking but no touching for the cats! 😉
Oh Joyce what a great idea if only it were possible!! 😜
Wonky Womble, thanks for sharing your photos. It Looks effective! I am definitely thinking more down the lines of a structure now maybe with climbers. But if anyone has any other photos of their screens or pergolas that successfully help with privacy I'd love to see them to inspire me for my project.
Posts
Knock your neighbour's house down?
I would also suggest overhead screening. How about a grape vine trained over a wooden or metal pergola type frame work, roots would need to be planted in the garden and the top growth trained towards the house. Might make your downstairs a bit dark in the summer though. Or wisteria, lovely pendulous sweet scented flowers. A tracleospermum jasminoides? (spelling) could grow in a large container, evergreen, sweet scented flowers at this time of the year. Do not be put off by the name, it is a very well behaved twiner. I have two in my garden but beware you do not buy a variegated one which is very slow growing with unscented flowers, as I did, persuaded by the variegated leaves.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
It's a bit rustic but I'm keen on working with reclaimed items, this was fence posts, logs and pallets, these pictures were last year, it's now covered in honeysuckle and Jasmine and screens very effectively 😊
Wonky Womble, thanks for sharing your photos. It Looks effective! I am definitely thinking more down the lines of a structure now maybe with climbers. But if anyone has any other photos of their screens or pergolas that successfully help with privacy I'd love to see them to inspire me for my project.