Hi Grateful Deadhead, having read your other post tonight I am replying to this one in disguise
If you go with top birds suggestion re the posts there is a cheaper way to do which we sourced in the week. In Wickes they sell tantalised split poles, about 6 to 8 Pounds each pending on the height you want which you can screw into the existing stone posts. You could then nail screening to the posts. One I have used is the tree bark one which comes in a roll and it has lasted really well past three years and through that heavy long snowy winter and the wet one we had this year. This would then be a lovely back drop to the plants you choose and you can even tie climbers to it. Even the horrid ley lands above would look nice as it would be like a woodland
Hope you keep us posted with your project
Ps know exactly how you feel when stressed reprivacy as like you I have long thin garden which on the right I have neighbours with THE shed and then on the left we have the ends of five gardens who all have different fences! I hate it! Can't even replace it cos none of them belong to us! Over the years I have painted my side so all same colour and then I used the bark screening which made me lots happier as not so mIs match now
Glad you like the idea & fully understand your need to seek privacy in your garden - we have a similar problem & have found the hazel panels a good solution in a rural environment. They should last a good few years (by which time any other shrubs should be large enough for at least some screening).
I was thinking of wooden poles abt 2 -3" diameter (I think these are about £3 each from our local fencing / shed supplier).
If you found the cost of putting up panels across the whole of the boundary too daunting would 2 or 3 strategically placed ones help solve the problem?
Other plants I had thought of if you want a natural / woodland type affect include hawthorn & blackthorn. Hawthorn, in particular, will grow quite quickly & seems to grow in most spots including under trees - so you could, perhaps, have 2 or 3 panels strategically placed for privacy with some hawthorns filling in the gaps at the sides.
If you want to maintain hawthorn as a hedge you can (although not nice with all the spines) or, if you have the space you can leave it to do it's own thing. There are quite a few online companies selling very cheap native hedging whips (or you might have a local nursery) which is a very cheap way of doing hedging (but they still take a few years to grow).
Blackthorn, of course, will eventually give you sloes. Sloe gin at Christmas - yum
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I'd echo attaching some posts on to the existing ones (cheap from a timber merchant) and then trellis or something similar on to those. I'm not keen on the bamboo/reed screening but that's a personal thing - if you use it, put some horizontal battens on to attach it to. It would certainly be a fairly cheap solution and you can then get something planted in front of it. I've got blackthorn hedging, planted last winter bare root - it's looking great already - so as long as you prepare the ground well, it grows pretty rapidly. Lots of climbers will do fine but get some goodness in the ground before you get them in, and then keep well watered and mulched. Dog rose (Rosa canina) should be fine there too - you can get that bare root in autumn. As Topbird says -hawthorn also, and you can get native hedge mixes from online hedging specialists. Won't be pricey for the size you seem to have there GD.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've just gone out and taken these pix GD - this is my blackthorn hedging. This was just compacted grass at the edge of the adjoining pavement. I put the fence in, prepared all the ground with plenty of manure and compost and put the hedge in during November. This is just a single row but I've got a bit behind some planting where there's a double row and it's really dense.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Nice blackthorn FG - they have done really well. I think given GD's situation (ie deep shade & dry as a bone) that he could not expect such good results in such a short space of time but (as you say) good soil preparation & lots of watering until they're established will probably be successful & provide some decent screening within 2 - 3 years.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I'd agree Topbird - GD's site is not so desirable, but with a good bit of rotted manure, compost and plenty of water at the start they'd adapt well. My site was compacted weedy grass and full of stones, so no nutrition until I started digging it out and doing just that!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi GDH, im only going by what is growing in my garden, there is a self set elder which has got quite big now, the soil is very dry there, right by the hawthorn hedge which takes alot of moisture out, this made me think that if you could get a little one, it would probably do well.
The rose i have no idea of, i suspect its just some sort of dog rose, this thing seeds everywhere, it grows out of the gravel and cracks in the block paving, tough as anything and very vigorous, it is pretty if you have room to let it grow, it looks especially nice with honeysuckle growing through it
This looks like a small part of a bigger garden, so is it pretty much expendable? The fence is a bit rough - you should look at your deeds to see if it belongs to you before you decide exactly what to do. As it appears to be only 5 or 6 metres long it wouldn't be a big job to take it down and replace it with a 6-ft fence of feather-edged boards. Once that looks nice and neat you might feel as though that bit of the garden properly belongs to you instead of being haunted by your neighbour and be more inspired about planting plans. Good suggestions above for shrubs and ground cover to just fill up that corner and forget it.
Posts
Hi Grateful Deadhead, having read your other post tonight I am replying to this one in disguise
If you go with top birds suggestion re the posts there is a cheaper way to do which we sourced in the week. In Wickes they sell tantalised split poles, about 6 to 8 Pounds each pending on the height you want which you can screw into the existing stone posts. You could then nail screening to the posts. One I have used is the tree bark one which comes in a roll and it has lasted really well past three years and through that heavy long snowy winter and the wet one we had this year. This would then be a lovely back drop to the plants you choose and you can even tie climbers to it. Even the horrid ley lands above would look nice as it would be like a woodland
Hope you keep us posted with your project
Ps know exactly how you feel when stressed reprivacy as like you I have long thin garden which on the right I have neighbours with THE shed and then on the left we have the ends of five gardens who all have different fences! I hate it! Can't even replace it cos none of them belong to us! Over the years I have painted my side so all same colour and then I used the bark screening which made me lots happier as not so mIs match now
Hi GD
Glad you like the idea & fully understand your need to seek privacy in your garden - we have a similar problem & have found the hazel panels a good solution in a rural environment. They should last a good few years (by which time any other shrubs should be large enough for at least some screening).
I was thinking of wooden poles abt 2 -3" diameter (I think these are about £3 each from our local fencing / shed supplier).
If you found the cost of putting up panels across the whole of the boundary too daunting would 2 or 3 strategically placed ones help solve the problem?
Other plants I had thought of if you want a natural / woodland type affect include hawthorn & blackthorn. Hawthorn, in particular, will grow quite quickly & seems to grow in most spots including under trees - so you could, perhaps, have 2 or 3 panels strategically placed for privacy with some hawthorns filling in the gaps at the sides.
If you want to maintain hawthorn as a hedge you can (although not nice with all the spines) or, if you have the space you can leave it to do it's own thing. There are quite a few online companies selling very cheap native hedging whips (or you might have a local nursery) which is a very cheap way of doing hedging (but they still take a few years to grow).
Blackthorn, of course, will eventually give you sloes. Sloe gin at Christmas - yum
I'd echo attaching some posts on to the existing ones (cheap from a timber merchant) and then trellis or something similar on to those. I'm not keen on the bamboo/reed screening but that's a personal thing - if you use it, put some horizontal battens on to attach it to. It would certainly be a fairly cheap solution and you can then get something planted in front of it. I've got blackthorn hedging, planted last winter bare root - it's looking great already - so as long as you prepare the ground well, it grows pretty rapidly. Lots of climbers will do fine but get some goodness in the ground before you get them in, and then keep well watered and mulched. Dog rose (Rosa canina) should be fine there too - you can get that bare root in autumn. As Topbird says -hawthorn also, and you can get native hedge mixes from online hedging specialists. Won't be pricey for the size you seem to have there GD.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've just gone out and taken these pix GD - this is my blackthorn hedging. This was just compacted grass at the edge of the adjoining pavement. I put the fence in, prepared all the ground with plenty of manure and compost and put the hedge in during November. This is just a single row but I've got a bit behind some planting where there's a double row and it's really dense.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fallopia baldschaunica also known as Polygonum baldschuanicu - mile a minute vine.
Nice blackthorn FG - they have done really well. I think given GD's situation (ie deep shade & dry as a bone) that he could not expect such good results in such a short space of time but (as you say) good soil preparation & lots of watering until they're established will probably be successful & provide some decent screening within 2 - 3 years.
I'd agree Topbird - GD's site is not so desirable, but with a good bit of rotted manure, compost and plenty of water at the start they'd adapt well. My site was compacted weedy grass and full of stones, so no nutrition until I started digging it out and doing just that!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That's the ticket !
The rose i have no idea of, i suspect its just some sort of dog rose, this thing seeds everywhere, it grows out of the gravel and cracks in the block paving, tough as anything and very vigorous, it is pretty if you have room to let it grow, it looks especially nice with honeysuckle growing through it
Deadhead,
This looks like a small part of a bigger garden, so is it pretty much expendable? The fence is a bit rough - you should look at your deeds to see if it belongs to you before you decide exactly what to do. As it appears to be only 5 or 6 metres long it wouldn't be a big job to take it down and replace it with a 6-ft fence of feather-edged boards. Once that looks nice and neat you might feel as though that bit of the garden properly belongs to you instead of being haunted by your neighbour and be more inspired about planting plans. Good suggestions above for shrubs and ground cover to just fill up that corner and forget it.