Higher fence - how to suggest without offending?

KateLiana27

Our new house has a high fence on two sides of the garden, but a very low one bordering our other neighbours. They are lovely but it's a bit awkward to have to make polite conversation every time we're in the garden. I like my privacy! Also I feel funny using the garden when they have friends over there, like an uninvited extra person.

We'd like to replace it with a higher standard fence (which we'd of course be happy to pay for entirely ourselves) but are not sure how to broach this with the neighbours, without making it sound like "we don't want to have to look at you any more".

Any advice? Or should we just put up with it and learn to be more sociable?

(Fence is in great condition and we don't have pets, so can't use those as excuses unfortunately).

MrsAtobe

How about a slightly different approach, and put up some trellis? You can then grow climbers up them and as they get thicker, you'll get more and more privacy. I think plants are better at deadening noise than fence panels too.

I know it's not the instant solution you want, but might be worth it for the sake of neighbour relations;).

SpikyHedgehog

MrsAtobe wrote: »

How about a slightly different approach, and put up some trellis? You can then grow climbers up them and as they get thicker, you'll get more and more privacy. I think plants are better at deadening noise than fence panels too.

I know it's not the instant solution you want, but might be worth it for the sake of neighbour relations;).

I'm going with climbers in my garden too - I have 6 ft panels for 6 ft of the garden by the house, then 3 ft chain-link down the rest of the garden, both sides, and my neighbours love it as they 'can chat to me' and shout across my garden to each other... So I've taken the subtle though long-winded plan of putting climbers to creep up & cover the chain-link, and am now planning to put eyelet screws in the 6 ft high concrete posts at either end of the chain link, so I can put wires above the chain link to gradually get the climbers to grow higher and hide the neighbours gardens from us.

An advantage of using plants is that you can use a mix of evergreens and deciduous plants so that you can have more light in winter if you want when neighbours may use the garden less. And, if you've got someone who can give you cuttings of their plants, it's cheap too! I've got jasmine that's been in 3 years & has covered the 3 ft fence for about a 4 ft stretch so far, from a cutting from mummy, and put in honeysuckle this year, another jasmine that doesn't twine so needs tying in and 2 unspecified small leaved evergreens, all from mummy so only requiring my time and care.

KateLiana27

Thanks everyone - very helpful suggestions.

If we do leave it as it is, what is the etiquette with un-private gardens? A quick hello, polite comment about the weather, and then can we mind our own business again?

tanith

My neighbours are lovely we have 6' fences all the way round, both neighbours like privacy in the garden but we have been known to have 'chat' hidden behind our respective fence panels lol. I would say morning then carry on with what I was doing and not encourage chit chat otherwise everytime you 'meet up' you'll be drawn into a gossip. The trick I think is to keep moving with intent to carry on your business and look/sound busy..

Draagonfly

andrew-b wrote: »

I've blocked off most of his view over the lower wall with a small shed but there's still a gap but there's bushes on his side of the gap...but he keeps them trimmed! I'm thinking of getting a reed/willow screen to put up but i'm certain he'll come straight round if i do!!

How about a nice tall bamboo in a pot stood in front of the gap...a bit more subtle than the screening & if he says anything it's "purely decorative & that spot was crying out for something" :D

grizzly1911

If it is at the sides that you have a problem why not stagger the pannels by height with 6ft ones closer to the house. That way you would have privacy on the patio or going out to put rubbish in the bin etc.

Leaving them lower at the bottom end would mean you could be sociable when you choose.

My mums house has this an dit works fine.

With have all 6ft panels and it is a bit of a pain at times. In fairness we don't see that much of each other but we all get on really well so it isn't an issue. We can all be blunt without offending each other if it doesn't suit.

panchenlama

i've got the same problem on one side.
Neighbours are a pain in the a*se.
I've planted conifiers along the fence run this year and they are gradually creeping up. I can let these grow as high as I need (as 6' panels won't be high enough but any higher need permission).
Should only take a year or so and job done.