My only concern is that we had a silver birch at our previous house and the seeds (I think they were seeds) got absolutely everywhere and seemed to be all over the house for a couple of months each year! It was a big tree though and very close to the house, I don't think it would be a problem way down the garden.
Having looked again at pleached trees I'm not sure that they would be tall enough so something like this may be better.
@GardenerSuze I'm not sure what the soil is like other than it isn't clay. In my previous post last year I showed my gardening ignorance by describing it as 'normal' and was told there's no such thing!
@Plantminded I have to say your green screen sounds good. Do you have problems with different growth rates?
Not really @GardenerSuze, they are all limited by my shallow, sandy soil. And yes, Griselinia is hardy here. Sometimes newly emerging leaves in spring can be damaged by frost though if it is severe, but the plants soon recover.
A staggered row of birches would be an excellent choice @SoozJ22 if you'd like trees on the lower part of your garden. I've seen them used in that way. They are good for wildlife too but can be messy, as you know, so I'd avoid putting a patio or outbuilding close by!
On the middle terrace I would go with a beech hedge. Surely it doesn't need to be particularly high, maybe 1.8m, in order to screen those houses while you are on that terrace? Probably less actually, as the houses are at the bottom of the hill.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
This is probably totally inaccurate but you get the idea, the blue cones are sightlines. You can check how high your obstruction needs to be with bamboo canes and tape measures.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
@Plantminded I am sure Griselinia will love your soil. I have seen them growing locally but in a much lighter soil. My heavy clay would be the end of them in the winter. I have always admired the leaves. @SoozJ22 You can get multistemmed birches which won't grow so tall but will be more expensive. The winter walk at Anglesey Abbey is truly inspiring, tried to find some good photos of the birch trees on line but no luck computers are not my thing sorry.Winter is often the forgotten season. The Winter Garden by Val Bourne changed the way I garden.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
This is probably totally inaccurate but you get the idea, the blue cones are sightlines. You can check how high your obstruction needs to be with bamboo canes and tape measures.
@Loxley This is a great way to show it, I love a good diagram
The house itself is a couple of steps up from the patio so looking out from the kitchen to block the houses is where the trees along the bottom would need to be taller if that makes sense.
Re the hedge & Beech vs Griselinia is this just a preference? Is one more solid / dense than the other (in case of stray child or football hitting it?!) You're right tye hedge there doesn't need to be really high.
@Plantminded@GardenerSuze I was all but convinced on the birch but I'm now concerned about the potential mess as those people park their cars in the space between our fence & their houses! Any other suggestions for less messy, nice looking trees there or am I over thinking it now?! The silver birch seeds were a real nuisance and these trees will be near their cars and windows
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My only concern is that we had a silver birch at our previous house and the seeds (I think they were seeds) got absolutely everywhere and seemed to be all over the house for a couple of months each year! It was a big tree though and very close to the house, I don't think it would be a problem way down the garden.
Having looked again at pleached trees I'm not sure that they would be tall enough so something like this may be better.
@SoozJ22 one other thought do you know what your soil is like?
A staggered row of birches would be an excellent choice @SoozJ22 if you'd like trees on the lower part of your garden. I've seen them used in that way. They are good for wildlife too but can be messy, as you know, so I'd avoid putting a patio or outbuilding close by!
This is probably totally inaccurate but you get the idea, the blue cones are sightlines. You can check how high your obstruction needs to be with bamboo canes and tape measures.
@SoozJ22 You can get multistemmed birches which won't grow so tall but will be more expensive.
The winter walk at Anglesey Abbey is truly inspiring, tried to find some good photos of the birch trees on line but no luck computers are not my thing sorry.Winter is often the forgotten season. The Winter Garden by Val Bourne changed the way I garden.
The house itself is a couple of steps up from the patio so looking out from the kitchen to block the houses is where the trees along the bottom would need to be taller if that makes sense.
Re the hedge & Beech vs Griselinia is this just a preference? Is one more solid / dense than the other (in case of stray child or football hitting it?!) You're right tye hedge there doesn't need to be really high.
@Plantminded @GardenerSuze I was all but convinced on the birch but I'm now concerned about the potential mess as those people park their cars in the space between our fence & their houses! Any other suggestions for less messy, nice looking trees there or am I over thinking it now?! The silver birch seeds were a real nuisance and these trees will be near their cars and windows