Next door's birch is doing a pretty good job of screening that blank extension. From your photos it looks like something smaller would do the job though, say 6-7m ht. Amelanchier or crab apple or one of the smaller birches. You only need one or maybe two. It/they will dominate the garden but that's probably a good thing, make a feature of it. There's definitely not room for five Carpinus betulus Fastigiata, with a mature spread of 8m. I don't think you should cover much more than a third of your garden with a pergola, maybe just bring it forward a little. (You'd have to bring it clear of the trees anyway, may as well put it in the central third).
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Next door's birch is doing a pretty good job of screening that blank extension. From your photos it looks like something smaller would do the job though, say 6-7m ht. Amelanchier or crab apple or one of the smaller birches. You only need one or maybe two. It/they will dominate the garden but that's probably a good thing, make a feature of it. There's definitely not room for five Carpinus betulus Fastigiata, with a mature spread of 8m. I don't think you should cover much more than a third of your garden with a pergola, maybe just bring it forward a little. (You'd have to bring it clear of the trees anyway, may as well put it in the central third).
I see what you mean about reducing the size of the pergola. I have now reduced the size as you suggested. I have also made the beams 25mm thinner at 50mm and the same for the side beams, hopefully this removes the chunkiness of it. I have almost centred it but not quite as I do not want the beams interrupting my view of the beautiful gardens on the right as I am sat on the sofa inside.
As for the trees next doors birch must have taken 50 years to grow. If I were to purchase two eucalyptus trees are we talking 10 years before they provide any useful screening?
I was wondering what everyones thoughts are on adding steel wires to the two metre high back wall bringing the total height up to 2.8 metres. I could then grow climbers over the wall and steel wires, though not sure which ones to pick. As that part of the garden is North facing I am not losing any light by having such a high back boundary and the house directly behind does not even have a garden just a small ugly court yard. It is a HMO. Please see the images above to see what I mean.
I will add the bamboo as suggested along that left hand flower bed, it lets the evening sunlight shine through.
I was thinking of hiding the shed by extending the flower bed out to the right. I could then add some bushes that would only need to be 500mm high to give me 1350mm (the raised patio and flower bed are 850mm high) height in total which is more than enough to hide the bin.
I was thinking of placing the gate slightly to the left to partially hide it from view is this a good idea?
I would also look at angling the patio to increase the sense of width.
I love everyones thoughts so far its improving things greatly.
Not eucalyptus. Far too big and unwieldy. Do go for plants that grow just tall enough to mask the view of that building. It's all about perspective so draw a line from your eye level to the top of that building and you'll see the tree can be a lot smaller but still block it.
Not eucalyptus. Far too big and unwieldy. Do go for plants that grow just tall enough to mask the view of that building. It's all about perspective so draw a line from your eye level to the top of that building and you'll see the tree can be a lot smaller but still block it.
and do try drawing your paving as 60 or 80cm square slabs laid on the diagonal. It will feel much more spacious.
At the mo it looks too industrial and a bit public loo.
Hi Obelixx I see that steel reinforcement beam, there are lots of gaps in it so its not much use? Is your idea to cover it in climbers to cover up the gaps?
The reason my pergola beams are so high is to block the view of the neighbouring properties back windows. The illusion only works when they are tall.
The steel thingies will be covered by climbers won't they? Far easier for them to cling to that than to a solid beam to which you would have to attach wires or trellis. Also, they are strong and won't rot and will block less light.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Yep eucalyptus probably too big, you'll see on my sketch 6m ht is plenty. Don't get hung up on the height of the pergola beams, they'll have vegetation on them. I think trying to block 100% of that view is a mistake tbh, if you put things in front of it, you will notice if far less even if you can still just about see it imho
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I might be wrong but it's worth checking planning permission rules for pergolas. I believe next to a garden boundary they need planning permission over 2.5m tall. Those look to be approaching that high. Happy to be corrected.
Matt_, I already have planning permission for the pergola at 2.8 metres high.
WillDB, current height of the beams on my pergola design is 300mm
Obelixx, I have designed the patio with 60cm square slabs. I have shown the patio with a hole for one tree in the middle but also the placement of two holes for two trees.
Just to note I saw this lovely photo where they manage to break up the patio with different textures but I guess my garden is too small for that idea.
Above is an image of a neighbours garden a few doors up from me that I took a while back. They only have one tree with the other trees in the background coming from the back neighbours garden. Sadly I do not enjoy trees from my neighbours gardens but I was wondering could I create an ivy/climber wall along my back boundary to try and mirror their garden and give a sense of depth? You will see I added steel wires along the top of the 2 metre high wall to bring the total height up to 2.8 metres.
I would also love peoples thoughts of me bringing the flower bed out to the right so it screens the bin and bike and hides most of the gate. Am I making the space too small by doing this?
Posts
I see what you mean about reducing the size of the pergola. I have now reduced the size as you suggested. I have also made the beams 25mm thinner at 50mm and the same for the side beams, hopefully this removes the chunkiness of it. I have almost centred it but not quite as I do not want the beams interrupting my view of the beautiful gardens on the right as I am sat on the sofa inside.
As for the trees next doors birch must have taken 50 years to grow. If I were to purchase two eucalyptus trees are we talking 10 years before they provide any useful screening?
I was wondering what everyones thoughts are on adding steel wires to the two metre high back wall bringing the total height up to 2.8 metres. I could then grow climbers over the wall and steel wires, though not sure which ones to pick. As that part of the garden is North facing I am not losing any light by having such a high back boundary and the house directly behind does not even have a garden just a small ugly court yard. It is a HMO.
Please see the images above to see what I mean.
I will add the bamboo as suggested along that left hand flower bed, it lets the evening sunlight shine through.
I was thinking of hiding the shed by extending the flower bed out to the right. I could then add some bushes that would only need to be 500mm high to give me 1350mm (the raised patio and flower bed are 850mm high) height in total which is more than enough to hide the bin.
I was thinking of placing the gate slightly to the left to partially hide it from view is this a good idea?
I would also look at angling the patio to increase the sense of width.
I love everyones thoughts so far its improving things greatly.
Read again what's been suggested above about using wires or metal posts and beams - this sort of thing - https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/steel-reinforcement/rom-concrete-reinforcement-dekchair-90mm-x-2000mm-nd090200/p/897944
and do try drawing your paving as 60 or 80cm square slabs laid on the diagonal. It will feel much more spacious.
At the mo it looks too industrial and a bit public loo.
The reason my pergola beams are so high is to block the view of the neighbouring properties back windows. The illusion only works when they are tall.
I will lay some slabs on the design now.
WillDB, current height of the beams on my pergola design is 300mm
Obelixx, I have designed the patio with 60cm square slabs. I have shown the patio with a hole for one tree in the middle but also the placement of two holes for two trees.
Just to note I saw this lovely photo where they manage to break up the patio with different textures but I guess my garden is too small for that idea.
Above is an image of a neighbours garden a few doors up from me that I took a while back. They only have one tree with the other trees in the background coming from the back neighbours garden. Sadly I do not enjoy trees from my neighbours gardens but I was wondering could I create an ivy/climber wall along my back boundary to try and mirror their garden and give a sense of depth? You will see I added steel wires along the top of the 2 metre high wall to bring the total height up to 2.8 metres.
I would also love peoples thoughts of me bringing the flower bed out to the right so it screens the bin and bike and hides most of the gate. Am I making the space too small by doing this?
Many thanks