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Screening out the Neighbours

• Message 1.Ìý

  Posted by WoodWose (U3332713) on Monday, 27th February 2006

  Hi. Our new house is built sideways to the street so we look across a 60' garden at the side of next door's red brick house - approx 40' wide x 40' tall. Are there any good evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs we could plant to screen out this big red wall? It's sheltered and faces North West. We'd consider buying in mature trees if necessary... Any ideas gladly received. Thanks!

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lizratcliffe (U3028349) on Wednesday, 1st March 2006

  Hello, you could try the following; the box elder maple is fast growing, up to about 60ft and survives well in drought or cold! The Alleghany serviceberry grows to about 35ft and is good for birds. It's leaves are a lovely bronze colour in spring, and large dark purple berries develop thereafter which attracts many birds, it to is quick growing. Otherwise I guess fir trees are a safe bet, with many types around. The cork bark fir has fragrant blue/green needles, and grows to about 40ft. I'd have a look online for the trees, as you may need quite a few it'd be v. expensive at a garden centre. Good luck!

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  Posted by KarmaChameleon (U2371177) on Wednesday, 1st March 2006

  Please be careful as your garden isn't huge and if you plant too near the other property you may have trouble with the roots of trees in the future.
  
  Mature specimins are fine in their place but are not only eye watering expensive to buy, but difficult to move (think large crane) and need lots of attention for the first couple of years.

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  Posted by Juliet (U2196646) on Wednesday, 1st March 2006

  I'd agree with Dee (having, when we moved into this house, employed neighbour's son to do a whole day's work digging out one tree-stump at the back of our garden - the roots were growing under neighbour's shed & tipping it sideways) - tall shrubs are a better bet for you than trees which may end up growing too big. I have amelanchier canadensis, which is a slightly smaller serviceberry (30' at maturity, & you can keep it smaller by pruning), but I wouldn't get anything much bigger. I'd go for things like bamboo, pyracantha, and forsythia, which are all fast-growing tall shrubs, & plant a mixed hedge - maybe you could also put up some trellis & plant things like evergreen clematis varieties, rambling roses, & honeysuckle.

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  Posted by Gardenmouse (U2443843) on Wednesday, 1st March 2006

  Hi,
  A couple of years ago I saw a garden (a real one) done by a designer in a similar situation. They used trellis with climbers, but more effective was that they made the ground the focal point. There was a mosaic, and lots of small plants - but it wasn't bitty, the design pulled it all together.
  Since it's on the web, I don't any reason not to send you a link if I can track it down -
  
  
  Hope this helps. It's much smaller than it looks in the photo's!
  GardenMouse

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  Posted by WoodWose (U3332713) on Friday, 3rd March 2006

  Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Has anyone ever tried acacia dealbata?
  

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  Posted by Toadspawn (U2334298) on Friday, 3rd March 2006

  One in a neighbouring garden is well above roof height. It is fairly lax and there are no branches for the first 10-15 ft or so. Perhaps the lower branches were cut off.I have a small one in a pot and when I bought it the top had been pinched so I guess it will be bushy when it grows up. .... Has anyone ever tried acacia dealbata?
  Ìý

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• Message 8

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  Posted by LondonPlane (U2356735) on Friday, 3rd March 2006

  I have seen these as tall as 1930's semis. They look wonderful in botanical gardens. However in urban and rural England they just look out of place. They have a really messing habitat, silver green leaves and bright yellow flowers.
  
  One of these against a red brick building would require sun glass to be worn to protect your eveys.
  
  Have you consider yew, holly or privet hedgeing there are many different cultivars. More evergreen to consider are Japanese Cedar 'Elegans', Koren fir and there are too many Lawson's cultivars to list here.
  
  On the boardleaf front consider Persian Ironwood, Crab Apples, Hawthorns and Fiedl Maple.
  
  Again this list is dependent on how much maintance work and what features you want with your garden. However just remember you want tone down the red brick not highligth it with yellow flowers.
  
  Yours no lover of Silver Wattle
  
  LondonPlane

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