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Privacy planting

moby63moby63 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
I moved into a new home a year and a half ago attracted by the large garden. I have absolutely lovely neighbours but a smallish (4foot) scalloped fence between the properties. This means we have limited privacy. I have planted a new border and this will fill out in years to come providing privacy without casting too much shade on our neighbours. The problem is the patio next to our houses. My neighbour and her family sit out all summer all day. That’s absolutely fine but I also like to sit out in the summer and I feel as though I’m encroaching. I’d like to plant something that will give us both a bit of privacy between patios. Unfortunately our patio extends right up to the fence line. There is maybe a 4 inch gap with stones right at the border. I was thinking of maybe planting a clematis in the garden and training it backwards along fence. I don’t want to cast shade on her sitting area but the sun should be high enough in summer to allow a foot or so of growth. Anyone have a better idea?

Posts

  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Could you possibly post a photo, @mairefreel?  And give us an idea which direction the patio faces?  It's hard to give good advice without.

    I know what you mean, though.  However much you like your neighbours, you still need your own private space.   :)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    A taller trellis panel by the house between the two patios (maybe 6ft by 6ft), with a climber trained onto it from the garden, might give enough screening without blocking too much light.  A group 3 clematis that gets pruned back hard each spring would perhaps be best in terms of not having a tangle of stems that could be seen as untidy.

    As you get on with the neighbour, how about discussing it with them? It would be a shame to fall out over it.  Maybe start off by saying how much you like clematis (or whatever) and how you'd love one beside your patio, but you're aware that they would be able to see it too, and find out how they would feel about it.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    could you lift a slab and plant a climber in the gap? that way you'll get cover quickly
  • moby63moby63 Posts: 3
    I’ve been thinking of that. Might be a plan.
  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    edited January 2019
    May be a trough or two with one or some of the non invasive lower growing bamboos we have them on the bedroom balcony's at the back of the flat to act as an evergreen screen.

    They are not to dense so the sun-lite filters through and in a breeze they sound wonderful.

    The picture is not us but gives an idea.

    Image result for bamboo plants on balcony

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    If your garden is fairly large could you consider making a second seating area which is easier to make private?

    Failing that it is possible to buy / make / have made a moveable (ie on castors) large planting trough with a high back (about 1.5m from the top of the trough) of trellis. You could plant climber(s) in the trough to grow up the trellis.

    Because the troughs can be moved you could have one or two strategically placed towards the side of the patio and angle / stagger them for the best effect and screening. You could consider evergreen climbers if you want a degree of screening through the winter.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • moby63moby63 Posts: 3
    Lots of good ideas. We do have another seating area that catches the morning sun but the patio near house gets the sun in the evening which is when we tend to sit out. Planters also a good idea.
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