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Fence privacy problem

DrewMcGDrewMcG Posts: 21
edited May 2020 in Problem solving
Hi folks, 

I'm new to Gardeners' World. I just bought my first house last year, inheriting a pretty poor garden. Since then, I've made a lot of progress - but I need your help with this one, as I'm rather stuck. 

On one side of my garden I have a six foot fence and a hedge on the other side. I would like to have more privacy around my patio area on the fenced side.

My neighbours have put privacy screening on the bottom of the fence at their side. So I'm looking for a quick, natural, all-year-round fix here for the top half.

We get quite a bit of wind, so PVC or other screening is, I think, out of the question.

The area along the fence is all slabbed. 

Does anybody with more experience have any ideas?

I thought I could maybe mount a number of fence planters nearer the top and plant something that would overspill, preferably evergreen.

Over to you - please help the newcomer!

Thanks, 

Andrew 
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Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Could we have a photo please?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • DrewMcGDrewMcG Posts: 21
    Of course! 

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Thanks Andrew.  If you want something quick, I would go for a roll of either bamboo or brushwood screening. Comes in a roll at different heights and can be fixed to your fences just by wiring or tying it on. If you don't like the look of that and it's your fence, you could get some matching wood and make a 'hit and miss' fence. In other words fix vertical battens to the existing posts, then horizontal ones and fix additional vertical slats over the gaps in the existing fence. This allows the wind through so it's not a solid barrier but gives more privacy. 

    Troughs with evergreen bushes or grasses would also work but would need constant watering.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • DrewMcGDrewMcG Posts: 21
    Thank you for the quick response, Lizzie. I'm not a big fan of brushwood screening, but I'll have a look into your 'hit and miss' fencing suggestion. In regards to watering evergreen bushes or grasses, I'm in the garden every day and don't mind watering. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d look at putting up a pergola with trellis along the back



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • foxwalesfoxwales Posts: 69
    Pots with bamboo.  Grows tall and grows quick and will do fine in a pot. You'll need a few pots though 
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Going with that idea, galvanized stock tanks as troughs for the bamboo.  Less maintenance and easier to water than individual pots.  
    Utah, USA.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you have troughs/containers, make sure they're big and sturdy @DrewMcG.
    That brushwood stuff is horrible - totally agree with you. Don't know which part you're in - but if you're in the west, it rots after about 18 months anyway. 

    I'd agree with @Dovefromabove though - a simple pergola with climbers is a much better solution, and far more attractive. There are far better shrubs/plants too, rather than bamboo, if you want to go down the route of just screening the fence. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DrewMcGDrewMcG Posts: 21
    @Dovefromabove and @foxwales, the pergola and bamboo ideas had crossed my mind before. They were one of the more expensive solutions and my wife would rather we spent money on the inside of the house. (My argument is that the garden is another room of the house, just that it's outside!) 

    @Blue Onion, never thought of stock tanks - good shout.

    @Fairygirl, I've always thought the bamboo and brushwood screening looked tacky and flimsy. That bit of fence only gets evening sun, so whatever would go there would need to be tolerant of the shade.

    Does anyone have recommendations of evergreen plants/shrubs that would climb/overspill and do so reasonably quickly? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The problem with anything quick growing is that it doesn't conveniently stop  ;)
    With shrubs, it's important to have the right soil mix though, very large containers, and good aftercare. 
    I have Osmanthus burkwoodii in a raised bed, albeit open to the ground below, and it's really good in shade. I expect if you made containers big enough, it would do well. It would take a few years though. It has lovely scented creamy flowers in late winter/spring. 
    Pyracantha would be fine too. Jaggy though, so you may not like that, but it's covered in flowers at this time of year [mine are just about to open] and berries later which the birds love. Despite the usual advice, it will grow very well in a shadier site. Cotoneaster would also be fine - and most are very accomodating.
    Philadelphus will cope with that aspect too. 
    If it had been sunnier, Escallonia would be fine, but it would probably be ok - just fewer flowers. Good old Genista [broom] would also be happy enough, or you could even put some supports into the containers and have climbers, if you don't want to attach anything to the fence itself, although that would be much better. Lots of clematis would be happy there, especially the alpinas, koreanas and macropetalas which like to be a bit drier.

    Have a think before you decide which route to go down.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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