Design Solutions
Create a secluded haven with screening plants and a pergola
Create a secluded lockdown haven with screening plants and a pergola
Q How can I make my small back garden more of a private space?
OUR GARDENS ARE private sanctuaries, places to escape from the outside world. But alas these days it’s rare for a garden not to be overlooked by the houses that surround it.
Garden screening is the key to making your garden feel more private, whether it’s blocking neighbours’ sightlines or hiding an ugly view. A screen can become an integral part of your design if it blends seamlessly with the rest of the scheme, so there’s no need to resort to planting a leylandii hedge, which will get too big, block light and suck all the moisture from your soil.
Almost all gardens have some form of fencing around them, so it’s surprising how often their potential is overlooked. If yours is unsightly, give it a new lease of life with a fresh coat of paint or decorative trellis panels along the top, where you can encourage climbers to scramble.
If you’re installing new fencing, check the government’s Planning Portal (www.planningportal.co.uk) to make sure you comply with building regulations regarding its overall height.
You can also make boundaries feel taller, without feeling hemmed in, using evergreen trees or shrubs. In a smaller garden this might feel like giving up valuable planting space, so one option is use tall, standardtrained trees placed strategically, or to train a row of leafy pleached trees into a ‘hedge on stilts’.
The seating area of any garden is typically where you want most privacy, and making this a covered space not only adds a bit of height in the garden, but also allows you to create a secluded hideaway in which to enjoy your garden without feeling as if you’re always on show. Camouf lage it with climbers and surround with plants for fragrance to help it blend in.