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Small, overlooked, north facing garden privacy challenge!
adjsanders
Posts: 19
OK, I'm at a loss here. Desperately need your help!
We bought our 3-year-old house in a bit of a rush a few months ago (Baby on the way, thought we were getting a good 'brexit' deal etc.) but hadn't really considered how overlooked it is or that the garden is north facing.
The garden is quite small - around 9 metres long by 10 metres wide and very overlooked. We also plan to extend to a max of 3 metres which will reduce the size even more.
And, because the garden is north facing, it only gets the sun at the back of the garden where we are hoping to put in a decked area or patio.
But the challenge is, how on earth do we screen the overlooking properties to the rear without eating into an ever decreasing garden too much?
Any help would be very much appreciated!!
We bought our 3-year-old house in a bit of a rush a few months ago (Baby on the way, thought we were getting a good 'brexit' deal etc.) but hadn't really considered how overlooked it is or that the garden is north facing.
The garden is quite small - around 9 metres long by 10 metres wide and very overlooked. We also plan to extend to a max of 3 metres which will reduce the size even more.
And, because the garden is north facing, it only gets the sun at the back of the garden where we are hoping to put in a decked area or patio.
But the challenge is, how on earth do we screen the overlooking properties to the rear without eating into an ever decreasing garden too much?
Any help would be very much appreciated!!
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Posts
Do you have any recommendations of very upright clumping bamboo that doesn't take up too much vertical space? Or any recommendations for the raised beds?
Haha! I think I'd need a full-size sailing boat! In all seriousness though, I'd much prefer something natural and green that will provide all-year-round screening.
Fargesia Scadrida would be my pick.
I'd build the raised beds myself. Perhaps the two fence panels across - 12ftx2ftx2ft. You could put it together easy enough with Oak Sleepers or rendered concrete block, or alternatively purchase a 'Half LogLap' planter kit. Depends on design choice.
Build the decking around it, leave the two trees in, add a water feature, some slick outdoor furniture and bi-folding doors on your extension and you've got the making of a contemporary courtyard garden.
I feel like you've been talking to my wife re: the contemporary courtyard garden!! Might be the way forward! I better go and raid the piggy bank
Also - nothing you plant along that fence is instantly going to screen those houses, unless you have a limitless bank account and put in something like pleached hornbeam. You would then need the skill to maintain it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When you say containers, do you mean pots and planters? Or are you also including raised beds? I'd definitely want to learn as much as possible about watering / feeding / maintenance etc. to make sure it's not a wasted investment. But ultimately, I'd ideally like to go with an option that requires 'less' work than others.
The bank account isn't quite limitless but we do have a bit of budget to spend. I fear pleached trees may well be out of budget and skill level.
I should have mentioned, I don't necessarily need to completely mask the buildings. Indeed, I'm concerned that if we put in a dense raised hedge those neighbours wouldn't be too pleased with all of the shade. So, rather, something that detracts from the view with a light and airy feel that encourages you to look at the greenery rather than the red bricks (and gives a more private feel). Yet, doesn't completely block out the light into their gardens.
When you say 'uninterrupted sight of the patch'? do you mean we wouldn't have privacy on the new deck at the back of the garden because of our neighbours?
If so, I'm comfortable with that. Now that I'm thinking of it, privacy is less of a problem. The main concern is creating a better outlook from the living room and garden than having to stare at some boring red brick terraces!