Jenny thank you re trellis - yes I think I was imagining it would be on posts sat just in front of the fence. My neighbour probably wouldn't mind if I attached it but best not!! Jenny how far away from the fence would you recommend planting trees? For example a row of photinia with the crowns lifted and/or I quite fancy an evergreen magnolia.
Doghouse thanks for the info, that's really helpful and yes good point I could always add to it. Do you think aesthetically the pergola would need to go to the end of the decking in depth (as in, to the end of the decking next to where the lawn starts) or could it finish before the end?
You've got a lot of decking there. My pergola only comes out around six feet.
The deeper you make it the more it will cost. Not so long ago, I used to say, "You could get fifty quids worth of wood under one arm." Now it's nearer a hundred.
It's entirely up to you.
I wouldn't be mounting the support post for the fence on the decking. I'd be concreting in Metpost where the new edge of the decking finishes. So the fence should be pretty stable. incorporating it with the left hand end support of the pergola which will need a similar bracket will just help to stabilise it.
My posts are attached to York stone sitting on a six inch concrete raft I'd ha laid so I didn't have that problem. The right hand end post of yours also needs a proper base fixing, it depends on what's under the decking, there whether there's a handy beam, which is unlikely, or whether you'll need a similar Metpost.
Bare in mind, you'd want the pergola to last longer than the decking, which may need replacing at some time.
If you're serious about this, will you be able to tackle it yourselves? If so I'd start by working out how much wood you will need and getting a quote from a woodyard.
Sorry to say, you might be "unpleasantly surprised."
But if you look at it long term you should be enjoying it for a very time and should you decide to move some time down the line, "nice gardens help sell houses."
Re trees, look up the expected spread of the crown when it's fully grown (unless you're going to keep them pruned into lollypops in which case the size that you're going to let them grow to). Half that spread (or a bit more) is the distance from the fence. I've not grown photinia (they're a bit fussy about conditions and don't do well on the sandy soil around here) and my magnolia is M. stellata which is a small one, so I don't know about those particular plants.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Thank you both! Doghouse I definitely won't be tacking it on my own, I have no talent for that sort of thing whatsoever! The decking will absolutely need replacing - I re-coated it this summer and underneath that coat it already looks pretty manky (although I think it's only about 3 or 4 years old). I would prefer a patio but financially that's going to have to wait a few years! So you're totally right, for all sorts of reasons it makes sense to have the posts fixed to the ground instead of the decking. (Underneath the decking is just rubble, I think it used to be grass there before the previous owner installed the decking).
I'm actually feeling quite positive about the decision and will really make an effort not to get wound up by my neighbours (which would be easier if the man wasn't such a creep!!).
As soon as the weather turned they really stopped being out there at all and the vibe has changed dramatically for the better, so I'm also starting to think about how I can create a garden with lots of interest in the autumn and winter, when it's "my" time out there
I can relate to your problem when it comes to a South facing garden, so the pergola idea is definitely a must when shade is at a premium. It will give you height interest as well (apologies if this has already been said, l have skim read the last few pages). A brilliant idea to concentrate on Autumn and Winter interest, something that isn't always thought of. Grasses and perennials such as helianthus are just a couple off the top of my head. Even though my garden is South/South West facing, l do have a few things that prefer a little more shade such as hellebores and snowdrops in the "shadier" part. When the Sun is lower in the sky in late Winter and Early Spring they are in comparative shade and disappear before it gets too hot.
I wish you luck in your plans and look forward to seeing how you get on. It may be worth starting a new thread asking for planting/design suggestions
Just sticking in my two-penn’orth. Neighbours come and go, so a move could be a worsening rather than an improvement, unless you would be happy with an isolated house out in the country. I would only move if they were properly horrible and seriously affecting my life, but before the situation escalated, as others have said. As well as autumn and winter being “your” time, so could early morning or late evening, or whenever they are not around much. However much they irritate you, don’t let them so much as suspect that you resent them. They will think that you are a miserable kill joy, because their perfect children couldn’t possibly annoy anyone could they? If they are awkward people, it could encourage them to make more noise. Good luck with your changes if you decide to go ahead with them.
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.
@gilla.walmsley - there are lots of threads on the forum about creating a nice space that you can enjoy in peace. If you type into the search option at the top of the page, you'll get plenty of threads. Simple screens and pergolas with climbers are the obvious solutions, and a few strategically placed trees or shrubs, can make a difference to the general blocking out of neighbours who have no consideration for others. Having to resort to wearing headphones is beyond ridiculous, and no one should have to do that in order to enjoy their garden. Sign of the times perhaps.
While those screens/pergolas won't stop the noise, as such, it will allow you to [hopefully] enjoy your space more. If you need to get someone in rather than doing it yourself, get a few quotes. It's difficult getting building supplies just now anyway in lots of areas - concrete, or the supplies needed to make it, in particular. Good luck with it.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I bought my house a couple of years ago primarily for the big garden and love being out there. However a year ago a new family moved next door to me and they are a bit of a nightmare. They are out there every day during the summer shouting at each other with their two screeching young kids. I probably wouldn't notice this so much if I was in a family myself, but because I'm on my own I like my outside space to be a peaceful sanctuary and it has become the complete opposite. I've also had to block the dad on social media because he's a bit of a creep! It's partly made worse by the fact the gardens are all very open - no trees at all - so you feel very exposed out there and in each other's space (although the previous neighbours were lovely and it never felt that way at all).
It's been such a problem for me this summer that I've put my house on the market and am trying to find somewhere new, but struggling to find something in budget where the likelihood of noisy neighbours next door is going to be any less. I'm trying to figure out if there is anything I can do with my garden to make it any better for me. Has anyone ever installed a privacy hedge above a fence line (eg with red robin or laurel etc)? Or does anyone have any recommendations for extremely fast growing trees that I could put all the way down? I'm not too worried about shade as the garden is south facing and baking hot (and quite wide too). Any other ideas would be really welcomed... or does everyone think I'm better cutting my losses and might have more luck elsewhere?!
You have my sympathy. I moved here, on my own, 16 years ago. The young couple next door already had their first child, followed eventually by twin daughters. Our location is very rural, no other neighbours near by. Open fields, peace, quiet, a fair sized garden for me and open fields for the children to play in. Which they never did. Their father was guilty of blasting the air with his radio when he was working outside and as the years went by the 2 girls developed lungs the strength of rowing coxains. The fights and arguments needed to be heard to be believed. A divorce ended my nightmare and my new neighbours, a young mother and 2, at the moment, extremely polite and quiet young children, are a delight to have around. The previous neighbour put up a close board fence around a deck he layed but I never planted any trees or shrubs between our gardens. He also used to light a barbeque right next to my front gate, just outside my kitchen door and window. His daughters learned their inconsiderate behaviour from him as their mother always tried to be neighbourly. Weirdly, now it is almost unnerving to be able to enjoy fully the peace and quiet. I never considered moving (a) because I couldn't afford to, (b) I love my location and my garden. Why should I chance possibly moving into an even worse location? It is a very unpleasant situation to find yourself in and it can make you feel really miserable. Ear defenders when in the garden sounds a good idea but I am not sure what else you can do. Hedges and trees are not 100% sound proof. I count myself so lucky to now be able to enjoy my garden and home in the silence I value so much. My sister and I were never allowed to scream and shout when we were playing and I always stopped my son and daughter from shouting but these days it seems free expression is OK no matter how much it interferes with other peoples lives. Good luck.
Joyce you are so right, and I think that's really what made my decision to stay. Looking at other houses there was just none I found where the odds were any less of me having the same thing. Particularly because as I've said, they're not doing anything "wrong". This thread has really helped me to understand that even moving to a detached bungalow in a rural area offers no guarantees! The only way to get more of a guarantee is to have enough money to buy a sizeable piece of land, which isn't in my realm of possibilities! Unless I move to my beloved Scotland away from everyone and everything I know
Fairygirl yes, I'm going to get a few quotes. It's something I want to get right and don't feel confident enough to tackle on my own.
AnniD, I thought I was super lucky getting a south facing garden but because there are no trees or shade it is a furnace out there from April-August, and quite unpleasant! (Although maybe I'm just turning into a miserable old git ) Even if I didn't have the neighbour issue I would be wanting to create as much shade as I can for the back of the house, so pergolas are a must, as are some trees - though I realise it will be some time before I get the benefit of those.
I really appreciate everyone's input here, it has helped me to make a decision I feel quite positive about and actually excited about how I can make it better for me.
Unfortunately, there's been a couple of generations now where a considerable number of young people have, "never been trained to be parents."
How often when you are out do you see misbehaving young children in restaurants, shops or wherever where their parents are close by and are ignoring it?
It's likely not to change when they become teenagers.
Mothers particularly, too often want to be "friends" with their children. Then the respect from them goes out the window.
Children need set routines with defined, "immoveable goalposts." But it doesn't have to be draconian. It gives them a sense of security.
Both parents must abide by the same rules so a child can't play off one against the other.
I was known as Victorian Dad when my two were children. Mum had a 'lighter touch'. Seems to have worked
I can't abide entitlement and complete ignorance of your place in the world with regard to others. However, I feel like that is a minority view.
If excessive noise and a slightly 'creepy' dad are the extent of the problems they cause you, as others have said, there's a fair chance moving would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
I'm glad you've garnered a positive outlook from posting on here and hope that all your garden renovations go well.
Posts
I'm actually feeling quite positive about the decision and will really make an effort not to get wound up by my neighbours (which would be easier if the man wasn't such a creep!!).
As soon as the weather turned they really stopped being out there at all and the vibe has changed dramatically for the better, so I'm also starting to think about how I can create a garden with lots of interest in the autumn and winter, when it's "my" time out there
A brilliant idea to concentrate on Autumn and Winter interest, something that isn't always thought of.
Grasses and perennials such as helianthus are just a couple off the top of my head.
Even though my garden is South/South West facing, l do have a few things that prefer a little more shade such as hellebores and snowdrops in the "shadier" part. When the Sun is lower in the sky in late Winter and Early Spring they are in comparative shade and disappear before it gets too hot.
I wish you luck in your plans and look forward to seeing how you get on. It may be worth starting a new thread asking for planting/design suggestions
Simple screens and pergolas with climbers are the obvious solutions, and a few strategically placed trees or shrubs, can make a difference to the general blocking out of neighbours who have no consideration for others. Having to resort to wearing headphones is beyond ridiculous, and no one should have to do that in order to enjoy their garden. Sign of the times perhaps.
While those screens/pergolas won't stop the noise, as such, it will allow you to [hopefully] enjoy your space more. If you need to get someone in rather than doing it yourself, get a few quotes. It's difficult getting building supplies just now anyway in lots of areas - concrete, or the supplies needed to make it, in particular.
Good luck with it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I moved here, on my own, 16 years ago. The young couple next door already had their first child, followed eventually by twin daughters.
Our location is very rural, no other neighbours near by. Open fields, peace, quiet, a fair sized garden for me and open fields for the children to play in. Which they never did. Their father was guilty of blasting the air with his radio when he was working outside and as the years went by the 2 girls developed lungs the strength of rowing coxains. The fights and arguments needed to be heard to be believed. A divorce ended my nightmare and my new neighbours, a young mother and 2, at the moment, extremely polite and quiet young children, are a delight to have around.
The previous neighbour put up a close board fence around a deck he layed but I never planted any trees or shrubs between our gardens. He also used to light a barbeque right next to my front gate, just outside my kitchen door and window. His daughters learned their inconsiderate behaviour from him as their mother always tried to be neighbourly.
Weirdly, now it is almost unnerving to be able to enjoy fully the peace and quiet. I never considered moving (a) because I couldn't afford to, (b) I love my location and my garden. Why should I chance possibly moving into an even worse location?
It is a very unpleasant situation to find yourself in and it can make you feel really miserable.
Ear defenders when in the garden sounds a good idea but I am not sure what else you can do. Hedges and trees are not 100% sound proof.
I count myself so lucky to now be able to enjoy my garden and home in the silence I value so much.
My sister and I were never allowed to scream and shout when we were playing and I always stopped my son and daughter from shouting but these days it seems free expression is OK no matter how much it interferes with other peoples lives.
Good luck.
Fairygirl yes, I'm going to get a few quotes. It's something I want to get right and don't feel confident enough to tackle on my own.
AnniD, I thought I was super lucky getting a south facing garden but because there are no trees or shade it is a furnace out there from April-August, and quite unpleasant! (Although maybe I'm just turning into a miserable old git
I really appreciate everyone's input here, it has helped me to make a decision I feel quite positive about and actually excited about how I can make it better for me.
I can't abide entitlement and complete ignorance of your place in the world with regard to others. However, I feel like that is a minority view.
If excessive noise and a slightly 'creepy' dad are the extent of the problems they cause you, as others have said, there's a fair chance moving would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
I'm glad you've garnered a positive outlook from posting on here and hope that all your garden renovations go well.