Need some advice
Jackie Powell
Posts: 7
My garden is tiny, about 5mx5m. One corner was shaded by the privet, ash trees and sycamore that was in my neighbours very overgrown garden. The shady corner was a haven for birds and they used the overgrown privet as a corridor between our birdfeeder and one in the next garden down.
Yesterday I arrived home to this...
I'm totally gutted! I know it's his land and he can do what he wants but the whole atmosphere of my little haven has changed.
I would like to plant something behind the birdfeeder that will help with the cover for the birds and add a bit more shade to the corner. I was thinking about a small tree and some shrubs but I want something that will fill the space quickly.
I can't stand going into the garden at the moment, I'm so upset....does anyone have any ideas?
Posts
Just found this from when the garden was first finished 5 years ago, but it shows just how much has disappeared from the next garden
Oh no, that must have been a shock for you. People will be along shortly with some good suggestions I'm sure.
it's so upsetting isn't it, our birds use the combined bushes of both my neighbours and my garden joins both of theirs, which is where my bird feeders are but my neighbour lovely as he is will start electric hedge trimming in the middle of summer when all the birds are in there but it's his bush so i can't really ask him not too but it is annoying.
Could you perhaps put up some trellis in the corner behind the bird feeder and grow some clematis up it, or something really fast growing like Eccremocarpus, or even sweet peas, that will provide some shade and shelter straight away?
Then think of it as an opportunity - privet gave the birds cover, but it is not the most interesting thing for you to look at. Elder grows fast and comes with several foliage variants and has berries for the birds. Or you could have a crab apple, or an amelanchier that grows to the height of a small tree, for flowers and leaf colour. Some cotoneasters grow fast and large and provide flowers for the bees and berries for the birds. Hollies grow faster than you might think and would provide winter shelter too, or you might with some research find an attractive conifer that wouldn't grow too large. Viburnum opulus grows to 4m and has white flowers and either red or yellow berries according to choice, or there is rowan with an even wider range of colours red, pink, orange yellow and white, and pretty foliage. Euonymus europaeus has outstanding autumn colour and amazing pink and orange berries. Just have a browse and a think and before long you will be really glad they cut their trees down!
Thanks for the input! We are getting some trellis tomorrow as there are some long wisteria stems that will start to cover it. Also looking at pyracantha and maybe a clematis, though my track record with those is pretty dire!
Same goes for cotoneaster or pyracantha.
The ivy will come whether I want it to or not....it's totally rampant in that corner!!
Done! Needs to fill out but it is lots better than it was!
Before...
After...