Cheap privacy screen.

retro_bluebell

Hi I was wondering if I could pick the brains of you experts on here.

I live in a terrace house in the middle of 3 houses. We have a short fence on either side of our garden (probably only about 3 foot). On the left side the fence has a small gate which our neighbours put in with the previous owner as their kids liked to play together. I have no problem with this as my neighbour has a son the same age as my daughter and we often open the gate ans they can run through both gardens ( they get to play on our slide and my daughter plays on their trampoline). Like I say I don't mind this at all but as the fence is quite low we dont have any privacy at all, and with the summer coming up I would like to enjoy my garden without feeling like Im sat in next doors iykwim?

I have to add that my neighbours are great but do like their parties in the summer lol. Rather than erect a full fence which would hamper neighbour relations and put us out of pocket I was wondering if theres anything I can grow or make out of willow etc to create a small natural screen but that would still give us access to the gate? I have had a look on the net but everything say to use bamboo with string in between which Im reluctant to do as I dont think it would be safe with young kids. Also our ground soils not the best as its a new build type house and contains a lot of clay. I thought maybe some high backed trellis planters but not sure how high they come.

Sorry this is a long winded post! Can anyone suggest anything suitable?

TIA

tomterm8

trellis with something growing up it? Like roses, ivy etc?

LJM

that sounds nice tomterm8 then both sides would get the benefit of some lovely flowers
have to say i love the fact that you have such great neighbours retro-bluebell

Janey3

Trellis for me too. I bought some artificial ivy and wound it onto the trellis, while I wait for my plants to grow high enough.

retro_bluebell

Thanks for the idea's everyone, seeing as the fence is short do you think it would be ok to attach treliss straight onto it?

LJM I am very lucky with this lot my neighbours in my last house were a complete nightmare! lol

kinkyjinks

We solved a similar problem by asking the neighbours to attach some of that bamboo screening stuff on their side of the fence because that's where the fence posts were. That made the fence appear a bit taller. We then planted a virginia creeper on our side of the fence and it now trails over either side of the fence, blocking out the view in the summer. Now we can both sit out without feeling like we're in each others back yard. The creeper grows really fast and the bamboo screen with the creeper growing over it has lasted 3 summers now.