Overlooked by building..help!

Archiebear

After moving in two years ago I am finally tackling the back garden! The garden is approx 14m x 8m.

At the rear of the garden there is an existing 6ft fence. The previous owners planted a conifer(?) tree that has grown into a huge, two trunk monster and is now causing the fence to collapse. I've had a quote and am planning to have the tree removed however this will leave me with another a problem...

To the rear of my garden is a large health centre which will directly overlook my garden once the tree is gone. Does anyone have suggestions as to how I can disguise/screen the view without raising the height of the fence too much and that doesn't involve planting another tree?

Thanks in anticpation!

poppysarah

Unless it's a waiting room no one will have time to spend looking out at you.

How high would something need to be? Over 6ft and you're talking about needing a huge tree again.

Archiebear

Take your point about the waiting room
I suppose it's more screening our view of the building - it's very imposing and the first thing that attracts your attention as you look down the garden! Assuming it will be worse once the tree has gone.

I'm on a really tight budget (a pergola has almost wiped out my meagre budget but have always really wanted one!) so need free or cheap as chips if poss. I was thinking perhaps a bamboo? If I kept it in a container would it grow tall enough?

lostinrates

What bout a less dense tree? Something that will allow light and give a little leaf movement but filter rather than block? A silver birch perhaps, or if its a long way from a buildng a eucaliptus?

Archiebear

Liking the sound of Eucalyptus...makes me think of Koala's are they easy to look after?

Miss_Havisham

be careful with eucalyptuses (? plural). They can grow like wildfire so you'd have to be very disciplined in keeping it trimmed to desired size and shape.

tim_n

We're in a bungalow - once we removed the conifers we're very overlooked. We got used to it. We have an outdoor shower room which we regularly use, god knows what the neighbours think seeing us run with towels back indoors (the indoors one is broken and leaks!)

Farway

Archiebear wrote: »

Liking the sound of Eucalyptus...makes me think of Koala's are they easy to look after?

They do tend to flake bark off, and the, adult, dropped leaves are indestructible

They can be kept trimmed and manageable, but turn your back & they will be worse than your current situation

Archiebear

Thanks for the comments..I'm trying to keep it as low maintainence as possible so perhaps I'll have a rethink about the eucalyptus.....I know I'd start with good intentions but then with work, grandchild and trying to tackle the rest of the garden it would probably get neglected!

dibuzz

What about trellis and climbing plants?

Mojisola

Bamboos are good for this kind of situation but they are expensive. Make sure you get a clumping variety - the others can spread - https://www.junglegiants.co.uk/Bamboo_for_screening_and_hedging.htm

Do you know anyone with bamboo who would give you a few off-shoots?