Back garden privacy

robatwork

I know there has been much written here on the legalities of trellis height. I wonder in reality how many people have been legally required to remove trellis and/or fined as a result of going above 2m. Does anyone here actually know anyone who has been taken to court over trellis height?

Even if legal action was threatened the OP could apply for retrospective planning permission

Rosa_Damascena

robatwork said:

Some trellis like this 
on top of the fence with something like a fast growing clematis will be a lot more easy to manage than leylandii.

Now that would be lovely! Or jasmine, honeysuckle or climbing roses.

My neighbour has just built a screen on their fence and I don't blame them one bit, as my new kitchen is quite raised and I totally see this need for privacy. I just hope something nice pokes out from it and not hawthorne.

Mojisola

robatwork said:

on top of the fence with something like a fast growing clematis will be a lot more easy to manage than leylandii.

And there are some lovely small-flowered, scented, evergreen clematis that would give screening all year.

SandyShores

We steered clear of Leylandii because they grow so quickly and need lots of cutting back to keep them in check - so I wouldn't worry about them filling out.  But you need to be prepared to put the work in on them to make sure they stay manageable.  As another poster said, once they have grown too big, if you cut them back to the brown wood they won't green up again.  Unlike Laurel, which you can cut right back and it will green up again.  I do think hedges are good though, they are great for the environment, for wildlife and they are good at helping to muffle noise etc.  And those are very cheap and fastgrowing.  We've read up on the high hedges act, and as long as you aren't blocking your neighbours light, and don't grow them so high that your neighbour can't keep their side trimmed it should be fine.  The other thing to consider is a mixed hedge of different bushes and trees that you don't trim back formally.  We had one at our last house and it was really lovely and easy to maintain - although we were glad to leave the eucalyptus tree behind before it reached full height!!

Lots of advice on the RHS website https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=377