Overlooked garden

[sunflower123]

We have a large overlooked garden that used to be very overgrown and in poor condition. Finally it is in better shape. Now I am wondering if there is any way to add some privacy, since there are a few houses overlooking the garden. Since the windows are quite near I don't want to put up anything that will look unsightly to our neighbours. I also can't extend the fence AND we live in an area that receives storms, so I'm worried about anything falling onto the neighbour's property. Any ideas would be great. Thanks

 

[Oliver Buckle]

With an area that size I would be tempted to split it into smaller areas which joined into one another. That way the separation between them need not be high, say a six or seven foot trellis with something growing up it, but would still give you privacy within the area. Think of all the different sorts of things you might like, like roses, grasses, water plants, herbs, formal flowers, cottage garden, seating area, an area for vegetables, then plan them out so you can make a meander between them or a more direct rout if you want to pick something for dinner quickly.

 

[cpp gardener]

Check out Monty Don's Long Meadow for ideas.

 

[Meadowlark]

Have you ever considered a veggie garden? That looks like the perfect spot.

Overgrown does not necessarily equal poor soil and in fact could easily be the opposite. That soil could potentially be rich with nutrients.

 

[oneeye]

I would start with a small area the first year and add on yearly after that. Dig the area where the garden will get full sun and avoid areas close to a fence or buildings. Make sure the area has full access to water. Add composted compost or composted manure to the area before planting. Good luck friend.

 

[sunflower123]

Thank you so much for all your comments. These are great suggestions.

 

[Mike313]

We have a large overlooked garden that used to be very overgrown and in poor condition. Finally it is in better shape. Now I am wondering if there is any way to add some privacy, since there are a few houses overlooking the garden. Since the windows are quite near I don't want to put up anything that will look unsightly to our neighbours. I also can't extend the fence AND we live in an area that receives storms, so I'm worried about anything falling onto the neighbour's property. Any ideas would be great. Thanks

I had a similar situation about 20 years ago when I built a house on a site that was overlooked from the opposite side of a country road. I wanted to plant 'something' that would give privacy yet be as natural as possible. I took some advice from a landscape gardening company. The recommendation I got was to strategically plant some Holly Oak (Quercus ilex) also known as Holm Oak. It is an evergreen oak tree so it's foliage give cover all year round and it looks very much at home in a garden in the British Isles. I bought three semi-mature specimens - they were expensive but gave instant privacy. They came with a 3-year guarantee, if they died off they would have been replaced free of charge. You need to allow the correct spacing and distance from your boundary so that the trees, when mature, aren't too close together or a problem for your neighbours.

 

[sunflower123]

That's great advice, Mike313, thank you