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Neighbour's new house in their back garden: tall low maintenance evergreens needed!

uobrup66554uobrup66554 Posts: 18
in Plants
Hello everyone,

I've just posted re: bush/hedges at the front of my parents' house...I wonder if I can ask your advice on the back?

My parents and I are definitely not gardeners, and have also struggled a bit with the cost of plants/trees- sorry for the embarrassingly bare photo below!
The photo is a view from their top window which shows a new house built in next door's garden -would be grateful for your thoughts on evergreen options!

They have lived at our old family home for 35 years-it's not a huge house but has a long garden.  Three unfortunate events transpired:
1. A young man moved in next door and was granted planning application to build a bungalow in his garden.  He removed all trees from his garden in the process.
2. A very tall old evergreen in our garden fell down in a storm
3. Another tall old tree in our garden became diseased so we had to remove it

I would like to help my folks find a cost-effective solution to plant a few trees that
-are evergreen
-will grow fairly quickly
-grow tall/wide enough to hide their current view of the house next door
-would not grow so tall, or be positioned so close to their house, that they block too much light in the garden
-cost-effective
-is unlikely to cause damage to the fence (also the neighbour's, including the random old panel that hasn't been removed)

Thank you!

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Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    We have a laurel to block the view of the neighbour. We didn't plant it, it was already here. It grows fast, we get a man in to trim it every couple of years.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • uobrup66554uobrup66554 Posts: 18
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    We have a laurel to block the view of the neighbour. We didn't plant it, it was already here. It grows fast, we get a man in to trim it every couple of years.
    Super!  Thank you, that sounds great :-)
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    They are trying to hide the view of the white bungalow on the right? All I can see is its roof, and it looks neat and low, and no windows overlooking. I wouldn’t see that as a problem, but everyone is different.
    I have had a laurel hedge and it was vast, its width could take over the garden if you aren’t careful. 
    I’d go for some pretty shrubs to draw the eye into the garden or small trees easily managed.  Amelanchia is nice. 
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Cherry laurel is evergreen and quite fast growing and can be kept small with regular pruning. Maybe a pergola or other garden screens in strategic places could help too. Climbers can grow up garden structures for added density.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree with @a1154. Is it really necessary? Is the building only really viewed from where that photo was taken? I expect it seems quite dominant if there were trees etc before that, and it's now totally different.  :)
    A simple hedge of something like beech would filter the view well, without needing to be huge, or just a few carefully placed shrubs, which would be easier to maintain. Trees or shrubs which grow quickly, don't stop at a convenient size either, so the right choices are important, so that there aren't more problems later on.
    Rowans or amelanchiers have lighter canopies and wouldn't be so oppressive in a small space. You wouldn't need more than a couple. The easiest method is to plant smaller specimens further into the space so that the perspective helps - a smaller tree nearer the house does the same job as a much bigger one nearer that fence. The siting of them is key though. If you decide to do that, use a couple of canes, or something higher, and place them in the grass -checking them from various angles, to get the right spot before planting the trees. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    There's no privacy issue really, I would say don't worry about evergreen and plant a nice tree that will give enjoyment through blossom and autumn colour etc, for example a crab, flowering cherry or amelanchier.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited November 2023
    I agree with @loxley … something like an amelanchier or two in the near right hand quarter of the lawn will filter and break up the impact of that dark expanse of roof, rather than superimpose yet another ‘solid mass’ in front of it … I think that might feel even more oppressive. 

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





  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Another vote for a amelanchier.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited November 2023
    Amazing that they got planning permission for that. 

    Another vote here for planting blossoming trees
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