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Ugly conifer

gemma7gemma7 Posts: 10
in Problem solving
Any ideas how to disguise this conifer on our patio please so it isn’t such an eye sore for us. Neighbour will not cut down and has trimmed 8ft off the top as it was over 30ft high and shading so much of our garden.  It over hangs by 4ft easily (although doesn’t look that in the pic). We  cannot trim back anymore as unsightly brown underneath the green which I know never grows back.  This is right outside our patio doors. All ideas welcome. Thank you
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
     
    I’ve reposted the pic for you so it’s the right way up. (There’s a glitch). 
    What I would do is create a border of plants along the foot of the fence which will draw the eye downwards and then the tree will hardly be noticed. 
    Well done for not cutting it back … it would’ve been hideous. 
    You’ll probably find it’s used as a winter roost by robins, wrens, goldfinches etc … so it’s not all bad. 😊 

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





  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718

    Rutland, England
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    edited August 2022
    Personally, I would trim back the conifer tight in line with the fence and grow either a vigorous clematis and/or rose over the exposed branches. You could even do a rose/clematis combo with the rose forming the framework for the clematis to climb up. I'm not as qualified as some of the other horticulturalists on here but Rambling Rector (rose) twinned with Viticella or Montana (clematis) might work.  

    Its likely very dry at the base of the fence nearest to the tree so it wouldn't do harm to dig a small 3/500mm deep trench to sever the roots your side (you are allowed to do this). Perhaps even adding in a small strip of root barrier prior to backfilling to prevent any new root growth encroaching.

    I would then improve the soil to be more moisture retentive by digging in some good rich organic matter, as its likely been degraded by the tree over the years.

    Plant the climber and mulch to finish.

    Another alternative is follow the above methodology but plant a nice large shrub/small tree adjacent, such as a magnolia. If its small enough the horizontal shadow angle shouldn't be much more than what is already cast by the tree. 

    Hopefully this gives you some food for thought and you get some more suggestions.
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    McRazz said:
    Personally, I would trim back the conifer tight in line with the fence 
    That would be literally the worst thing you could do.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Dave Humby said:
    McRazz said:
    Personally, I would trim back the conifer tight in line with the fence 
    That would be literally the worst thing you could do.
    Totally agree ... it would look completely hideous ... even with a climber on it .. if you could get a climber to scramble up it that is, and if the neighbours allowed a climber on it.  They'd be perfectly within their rights to hack any climber off it.  

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





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I would make a nice wide border (at least 1.5m) all the way along the fence and plant it up with shrubs and perennials to mostly hide the fence, then the conifer will just look like part of the background, "borrowed landscape. To my eye the conifer is not too bad but the fence is rather ugly.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Totally agree @JennyJ … draw the gaze down and inward. 😊 

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





  • gemma7gemma7 Posts: 10
    Thanks for the comments, the fence is sadly the neighbours too and not attractive no but wasn’t given a choice as he built the fence within his boundary.  I was thinking of a pergola of some sort as we will be having a patio laid soon. 
  • gemma7gemma7 Posts: 10
    I will also be placing a shrubed bay on the patio as agree needs eye taking away
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    edited August 2022
    Dovefromabove said:
    Dave Humby said:
    McRazz said:
    Personally, I would trim back the conifer tight in line with the fence 
    That would be literally the worst thing you could do.
    Totally agree ... it would look completely hideous ... even with a climber on it .. if you could get a climber to scramble up it that is, and if the neighbours allowed a climber on it.  They'd be perfectly within their rights to hack any climber off it.  
    I've seen it done to reasonable effect. I had a similar issue which I tackled via cutting back and screening as outlined above but thankfully within a few years the trees were removed anyway.

    I think what you're neglecting to comment on is the degradation these trees can do to the soil and environment below and around them. A successful border would certainly be hard to achieve without some modest remedial groundworks at least.

    However i do appreciate its subjective. Personally I wouldn't tolerate an overhanging conifer such as that and would seek to maximise the headspace above my garden. I work in landscape construction though so installation of, for example, a decent semi mature magnolia as a screen is neither here nor there.

    I suppose it depends how serious OP is with regards to mitigating the issue?! 
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