Absolutely agree @Plantminded , although I'd say that's nearer white than grey
I know @Fairygirl, I blame Microsoft - even digital paint doesn't look the same as it did in the tin!
Another option, along the lines of extra screening, is to do the more modern approach of horizontal cedar battens above the fence. A few posts put in, or a bit of extra timber attached to the existing fence posts, and then add those with small gaps between them. A cheaper alternative to those are roofing battens which are readily available in DIY stores, in various widths and thicknesses. Painted first before attaching is easiest.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As the trees are on your neighbours' side of the boundary you will be fine until you have new neighbours who do not keep the leylandii trimmed each year. Then it will rocket skyward and you will have a new problem. Leyllandii hedges look great until left to their own devices. They have caused so many problems between neighbours, cutting out light etc. most developers have stopped using them. Check the soil along the front of your fence to a depth of at least 3 ft. to see if/how far under your garden the roots have already travelled, and also how dry it is as large trees take most of the moisture from the soil. It might be worth thinking about large raised beds and growing annuals as anything planted within several feet of the trees will really struggle to survive.
Last year we had an eager tree surgeon who cut back the leylandii hedge by a foot taking all the green with it, instead of just trimming (crossed wires)
We've since built a 6ft fence to protect our children from the bare branches but we now have about 3ft of ugly bare branch above it. The hedge runs for about 30ft.
Any ideas what to do to cover it in the short term? We don't necessarily want to extend the fence any more.
Thanks!
Is that fence actually 6 feet?
I definitely agree that black or dark green would be your best bet for the colour of the fence.
I had this fence put around the whole of the garden to stop dogs from both neighbours. I’ll probably go for dark green.
I like your fence as it is @TheGreenMan and particularly the wood on your building on the right. I only painted my fence because there were three different types and ages of fencing in my garden when I moved here and the differences made the fence a distraction! I much prefer natural wood, particularly when the fence ages to those mellow tones like driftwood. Your garden is looking really good by the way!
I must admit I also like the colour of it as it is.
The building is actually just a private area I had fenced off. The previous owners had put concrete down for a greenhouse. I’ve fenced around it and it now has seats, a fire pit, hanging baskets, loads of pots. No wind, can’t be seen by the neighbours. Love it.
I inherited lots of that hideous 'orange' fencing, so leaving any fence was a no no. If you like yours @TheGreenMan, then leave it. Hope you're doing well - I'd wondered where you'd got to as I hadn't seen you posting As far as the OP is concerned though, it just draws attention to the fence and the dead bit of leylandii so a paint job is the best solution. I agree though - I don't think the fence looks anything like 6 feet, but it might just be the perspective etc.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm a little confused as to who owns the hedge. If it is yours then I'd just remove it and replant with something more interesting after moving the fence back to the boundary. I'm surprised the "tree surgeon" hacked it back like that without consulting you on the fact that they don't regrow from brown branches. I say remove the hedge because if you wish to keep it that height it will be constant work and you will never get to see any green from it, plus whatever you plant to cover it will always be in competition with it and in the way when you need to prune it. If it's your neighbours hedge then you are a bit stuck and I'd go for trellis above your current fence.
I assumed it was the OP's hedge @thevictorian , going by the initial post, and the hedging down the other two boundaries, but maybe I'm wrong. There's one along the boundary of a house near me - it's on a corner site and runs for well over 100 feet. I passed it one day and it had been cut right back like that one. I wondered if the owners knew it would stay like that, but a few months later, there was a 6 foot fence put in along the outside, with about a foot of hedge sticking out the top, so it's been well sorted, and will still be green on the inside. Unless they've cut that back too
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Correct, the hedge falls on our side of the boundary. It's essentially for privacy which is why we haven't removed it yet. The house behind us would look directly in without it. The picture has a confusing perspective, the fence is 6ft and the top of the Leylandii is 9ft.
Thanks for the suggestions on the climbers, we'll give it a go. I'd be keen to add a trellis but the intertwined branches of the top of the Leylandii are at a different level (they protrude outward) to that of the fence, so would need cut back even more to add anything to the top of fence, unless it was attached to the front of it and not sure how that would look.
Posts
Another option, along the lines of extra screening, is to do the more modern approach of horizontal cedar battens above the fence. A few posts put in, or a bit of extra timber attached to the existing fence posts, and then add those with small gaps between them. A cheaper alternative to those are roofing battens which are readily available in DIY stores, in various widths and thicknesses. Painted first before attaching is easiest.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Check the soil along the front of your fence to a depth of at least 3 ft. to see if/how far under your garden the roots have already travelled, and also how dry it is as large trees take most of the moisture from the soil. It might be worth thinking about large raised beds and growing annuals as anything planted within several feet of the trees will really struggle to survive.
I must admit I also like the colour of it as it is.
If you like yours @TheGreenMan, then leave it. Hope you're doing well - I'd wondered where you'd got to as I hadn't seen you posting
As far as the OP is concerned though, it just draws attention to the fence and the dead bit of leylandii so a paint job is the best solution.
I agree though - I don't think the fence looks anything like 6 feet, but it might just be the perspective etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I say remove the hedge because if you wish to keep it that height it will be constant work and you will never get to see any green from it, plus whatever you plant to cover it will always be in competition with it and in the way when you need to prune it.
If it's your neighbours hedge then you are a bit stuck and I'd go for trellis above your current fence.
There's one along the boundary of a house near me - it's on a corner site and runs for well over 100 feet. I passed it one day and it had been cut right back like that one. I wondered if the owners knew it would stay like that, but a few months later, there was a 6 foot fence put in along the outside, with about a foot of hedge sticking out the top, so it's been well sorted, and will still be green on the inside.
Unless they've cut that back too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the suggestions on the climbers, we'll give it a go. I'd be keen to add a trellis but the intertwined branches of the top of the Leylandii are at a different level (they protrude outward) to that of the fence, so would need cut back even more to add anything to the top of fence, unless it was attached to the front of it and not sure how that would look.