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Screening trees

SoozJ22SoozJ22 Posts: 35
in Plants
Hi all, I posted some pics in an old thread I started over a year ago but I think it's got buried so starting a new one! I'm looking for advice on trees ro screen out the houses at the bottom of our garden.

Top area will be patio which will have raised beds along the edges which will screen from that top area.  Middle section will be mainly grass and football area and bottom area trampoline.
It's a SE facing garden. I was thinking maybe pleached trees, red Robins? The garden was previously filled with around 15 huge conifers when we moved in so I don't want to block their light again but also want to look at the view not their houses! I'm an absolute novice so any advice appreciated.





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  • SoozJ22SoozJ22 Posts: 35
     
    This picture shows the trees the neighbours have to screen the house behind them. They're lovely but I would prefer evergreen
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I saw your question in the old thread and couldn't make my mind up if I should answer but you've asked again so I will.
    I can't think of anything that would block the view of those windows without blocking your neighbours light either from the top of your garden or the bottom. 

    You didn't mention this but perhaps you haven't thought about it and that is noise. A trampoline down at the bottom of the garden could cause noise that might cause friction with neighbours. Would it be better up near the house? 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Hi, are you wanting them to all be along that fence at the bottom then? If so pleached trees would work but it might look better if you chose less trees but moved them into the garden. A nice feature tree on the top patio would block alot of the windows if you placed it strategically and because it's higher up, it wouldn't need to be so big to give you privicy.  You can then place a larger one lower down to block the other windows. 
    With doing it this way you wouldn't need as many trees, might even get away with shrubs and you'd get a wider choice or could have some deciduous trees mixed in as they wouldn't be needed as much to create the privacy if that makes sense. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited July 2022
    I'd consider placing a hedge on the middle section of your garden.  It will screen the house windows below, retain your neighbour's light and block off their view of your trampoline if you leave it where it is, as @Uff suggested.

    Evergreen shrubs with tree like proportions worth considering are Portuguese laurel, Griselinia littoralis, Thuja plicata and Arbutus unedo.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Actually, that was a pretty stupid thing for me to say. If the trampoline is at the bottom of the garden noisy down there and at the top noisy for neighbours on either side. Can't win really. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • SoozJ22SoozJ22 Posts: 35
    Thanks everyone! 

    @Uff Re the trampoline my children are older (not as noisy as they were!) & those houses don't have gardens at the back, just a drive, so I can't see it being a problem, but good point to consider.

    We had thought about putting a hedge of maybe laurels along that bottom wall as you say @Plantminded . That would screen that middle area, but not really the view from the house or patio. Thanks for the suggestions I'll look them up.

    Maybe as suggested we could look at getting something taller for the raised beds on the patio level.  Any suggestions for the patio?  I can get large pots and there will also be raised beds, probably with no bottoms in them.

    @thevictorian yes we were thinking maybe pleached trees on the back fence as I thought they're not as dense as other trees so would let more light through.  Before we moved in the huge conifers in the garden towered over these houses blocking all their light for years so they were really happy when we removed those. We did let them know at the time that we would likely be replacing them with something, albeit much smaller.  It's for their privacy as well as ours so I hopefully they will welcome it. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think pleached trees are a good idea but it's usually done with deciduous trees such as lime, ash, hornbeam and I've seen it done with catalpa in Belgium.  The framework of horizontal branches and small offshoots is very attractive in winter and will still filter and partially block the view of those other houses without cutting anyone's light.

    Have a look here for info - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/pleached-arbours 

    Placing a well chosen tree - size, form, colour - nearer you terrace will also help with privacy without blocking the longer view.  It's all about eyelines, angles and perspective.

    Beware laurel hedges.  They are vigorous and need a lot of pruning and trimming to keep looking good and the larger leaved forms look dreadful when their leaves are sliced by a hedge cutter and then go brown.
    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)."
    Plato
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited July 2022
    @SoozJ22 Pleached Photinia's can snap in high winds. I can recall a couple of posts regarding this earlier in the year when we had the bad storm. Nature had never intended them to grow in this way they need much more going on at the roots to support the 'sail' above.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • SoozJ22SoozJ22 Posts: 35
    @GardenerSuze that would be upsetting as the height we would want are around £250 per tree!! Any suggestions for a sturdier tree for down there? Something we could keep around 9/10 feet tall, evergreen preferably? 

    @Obelixx thanks for the link. I'll have more of a loom at lime or hornbeam being options if we go with this idea. Any suggestions for a hedge on the bottom wall then as an alternative to laurel? 

    Any suggestions for orbamental trees in pots / planters on the top patio?

    Many thanks for all the suggestions so far! 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @SoozJ22 You could still think about Photinia as a shrub as long as the soil isn't too heavy. Every shrub or tree continues to grow without intervention. Whatever you do it won't be a case of plant it and forget about it, it will need maintenance. Sadly no instant fix. Sometimes trees are planted before a property is built to get a headstart.
    @Obelixx has suggested lime or hornbeam they are deciduous so will filter wind. 
    The reason why pleached Photinia is so expense is the amount of time it has taken to grow, the nurseryman needs his profit. I would also agree keep away from laurel.
    Hope this is helpful.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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