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Mixed Screening Planting - Help Needed Please
Newbie2019
Posts: 15
Hi Everyone,
We bought a new build a couple of years ago (which actually has a decent sized garden for once!)
We’re just in the process of sorting out the back garden and are thinking about planting some screening trees / shrubs down the left hand side of the fence (10 fence panels in length) and across the rear of the fence (4 fence panels in total)
we we have neighbours to the left hand side, but just farmers fields behind (but as he’s recently sold land for a phase two build we’re planning ahead in case he eventually sells and they build behind us and we lose privacy!)
I’m totally at a loss as to where to begin and was hoping someone can help get us started!
my questions are:
1) We’re looking for some evergreen screening, nothing that is going to be crazy to maintain and won’t become too much of a nuisance to neighbours, but at the same time gives a bit of privacy.
2) We don’t want just one type forming a hedge, and would like to mix up the look with different types of shrubs / trees (and hopefully a bit of colour) but at a loss what types we should plant together?
3) With relation to number two above, we’d need to dig a border. Not sure how wide this should be and would you recommended a single or double border for our requirements (I.e. two rows of shrubs/trees). Is there a pattern of how we’d mix things up?
4) I’ve had a look at prices and think we’d be buying at circa 1m tall potted for most things that we’ve seen. We’d like to cover the fence level as well as a bit of privacy above.
5) The trees you can see in the photo in our garden are under a preservation order. They aren’t very dense and the denser stuff in the back is in the farmers field (which ultimately will disappear if they plan to build on it)
and (finally!) we’d like a large cherry blossom tree in the centre of the garden at the back, so wondering how feasible that would be and we don’t mind buying one of these bigger to start with?
I appreciate that’s a lot of questions and advice needed, as I say I just don’t know where to start. Am I asking too much and is this the job for a landscaper? Or can someone put us in the right direction of what is needed?
thanks in advance!
Chris
We bought a new build a couple of years ago (which actually has a decent sized garden for once!)
We’re just in the process of sorting out the back garden and are thinking about planting some screening trees / shrubs down the left hand side of the fence (10 fence panels in length) and across the rear of the fence (4 fence panels in total)
we we have neighbours to the left hand side, but just farmers fields behind (but as he’s recently sold land for a phase two build we’re planning ahead in case he eventually sells and they build behind us and we lose privacy!)
I’m totally at a loss as to where to begin and was hoping someone can help get us started!
my questions are:
1) We’re looking for some evergreen screening, nothing that is going to be crazy to maintain and won’t become too much of a nuisance to neighbours, but at the same time gives a bit of privacy.
2) We don’t want just one type forming a hedge, and would like to mix up the look with different types of shrubs / trees (and hopefully a bit of colour) but at a loss what types we should plant together?
3) With relation to number two above, we’d need to dig a border. Not sure how wide this should be and would you recommended a single or double border for our requirements (I.e. two rows of shrubs/trees). Is there a pattern of how we’d mix things up?
4) I’ve had a look at prices and think we’d be buying at circa 1m tall potted for most things that we’ve seen. We’d like to cover the fence level as well as a bit of privacy above.
5) The trees you can see in the photo in our garden are under a preservation order. They aren’t very dense and the denser stuff in the back is in the farmers field (which ultimately will disappear if they plan to build on it)
and (finally!) we’d like a large cherry blossom tree in the centre of the garden at the back, so wondering how feasible that would be and we don’t mind buying one of these bigger to start with?
I appreciate that’s a lot of questions and advice needed, as I say I just don’t know where to start. Am I asking too much and is this the job for a landscaper? Or can someone put us in the right direction of what is needed?
thanks in advance!
Chris
0
Posts
https://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/which-hedge-is-right-for-my-garden/
As regards getting a landscaper in, if you are fairly young and fit and have an endless supply of tea/coffee and biscuits, you should have no problem
Usually new builds have a load of rubble etc. buried beneath them, but you may be lucky !
Personally l would go for a single width border at least 1.5m wide , the shrubs will grow pretty quickly. The secret is in the preparation of the site before you plant.
I could go on but l daresay others will offer plenty of advice, don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you want
Brilliant, thank you both for your ideas! I appreciate the help! One question I do have (taking both suggestions into account) is that if I did have a single border of that width and then planted a mixed hedge, do I mix and match what I'm planted as I go along? Or is there a certain pattern I'd need to follow of so many of each time of shrub etc?
Thanks
Chris
As Pansyface says make sure you give them room to spread. It's tempting to plant them close together to get instant results, but follow the planting advice for best results.
Smaller hedging plants will establish more quickly, they are growing their roots into the ground where they want to, rather than having to fight their way out of a big crowded rootball and will catch up quickly with the larger specimens. One or two large specimens are nice to get you going though.
I wasn’t aware of that but the nearest tree is about six foot away, with most being 7 to 10 feet away from the rear fence