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Dry Stone wall - how to create privacy with plants
jodielsullivan1
Posts: 3
I have a stone wall town the entire length of my garden which is over 30 meters. My Side has been levelled in various areas so the wall could not be taken away. the area i am looking at is 5 meters long all grassed plus i like the wall but its got allot of ivy which i have tried to remove and failed. I am thinking of putting more stones on top to make to wall higher (3ft) and plant shrubs or trees in front to create more privacy. I don't want to fully obstruct the wall or make a new hedge or next door will think the wall is theirs (and they are already difficult people) What plants would make nice beds with decent heights to give a bit of privacy but look pretty ? Next part is a 5 meter decking are so thinking concrete planters on top with grasses etc, not sure how good an idea that is though. Sorry long post.
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The rear wall had an access road behind so I planted a Sambucus which grew fast and spread sideways if a tad untidily
3 upright type of trees spaced out would look neater.
Plant everything so that they won't spread over the wall into your neighbours property.
Also had an aruncus which reached 4ft + every year but being a perennial had to be cut down at some point.
On the side wall was the neighbours garden and as the wall wasnt ours we put up a trellis above wall height with support posts on our side so nothing was fixed to their wall and grew clematis although a Japanese quince would be good or a rambling rose.
As to your decking area large wooden troughs you could make yourself out of decking with your tall grasses would be cheaper. If you watched your garden made perfect episode 2 one designer showed a border done with grasses.
My brothers a brick layer and hes done stone walls so willing to help but may be just as costly to get more stone for the top? There renters at the moment, i get on with the actual owner, i even use to help out watering the garden when he laid the turf. The renters are a bit entitled and there has been a couple of problems. I would rather take it down and put a fence but i am worries my garden will collapse into the neighbours there would need to be some sort of retaining wall build as well, plus its a large space to fence off and very costly.
At the far bottom i will be levelling it out then doing a fence across the width (5 meters) and then up to the decking (up to the decking from the bottom is approx is 17meters) Just for an idea of scale.
On the other side they neighbours are lovely, i know there fence is a bit flimsy but they needed to keep their dogs in and done what they could on a tight budget. Anything they do they talk to us an vice versa. I have young kids as well so the paddling pool and trampoline does not bother me at all, the only noise is laughing and having fun.
How about putting one or two more posts into the wall nearest the house and putting two fence or trellis panels to give you more privacy nearest the house? Then I would get some individual hedging plants or shrubs like forsythia, philadelphus, ceanthos or maybe some buddleia which grows fast and attracts butterflies. Plant these in front of the wall as far down as the decking to meet your proposed new fencing down there. Alternatively you could grow a row of tall grasses in front of the wall to make a screening effect. Miscanthus is quite tall and fairly tough. It still won't be cheap to do though, you're probably looking at £10 per plant at least.