Do you often see your neighbors window looking into your garden? Or do you see a street light or garage roof instead of your wonderful plants? Perhaps you want to create a perfect sanctuary or haven with your garden? One that allows you to relax and feel screened from the hustle and bustle of day to day life. Today’s world has become so crowded and privacy has become far more precious. We are pretty sure that you have been wondering how you can make your garden more private and we have the perfect answer to that.
The commonly asked questions when it comes to garden privacy tend to be:
- How do I increase my privacy from above?
- How to improve garden privacy without blocking light?
- How to make a privacy screen?
And we have the most helpful solutions for you and your home.
First and foremost, you can’t always make your entire garden COMPLETELY private But you can decide on where you most want the privacy, then you’ll have a very good chance of achieving it in that specific area.
1) How to increase my garden privacy from above?
As mentioned above, you first need to work out exactly where you need your privacy to increase. Windows often have a limited view, so you only need to block that view not screen the whole garden.
Identify which upper window or windows overlook your garden directly and what they can see.
The biggest mistake is to to try to increase your garden privacy by planting tall trees along your boundary. If the trees grow tall enough to screen the overlooking windows, they will cast your garden into shade. That might not matter if you had a very large garden, but most gardens these days are not large and it would affect the whole garden.
It is better to work out what the upper window/s can see. Often their view is quite restricted. Draw an imaginary line from the window to where you want the privacy (That will be your sight-line).
If you could see an imaginary figure in the window, then they can see you. But if the window is at such an angle or distance that you couldn’t see someone standing in it, then they can’t see you.
Block the sight lines, and just the sight lines.
A parasol, arbour, pergola or gazebo is a good way of increasing privacy if you’re overlooked by upper windows. Place them between you and where the window where an imaginary person could stand.
And you can also get more privacy by having a tree or a screen near to you. A small fruit tree near your terrace will give you more privacy than a taller tree further away.
And a 1.5m high screen can shield people sitting at a table. So you can have privacy while enjoying a meal with family or friends.
2) How to increase garden privacy without blocking light
This is the next big question. This, too, is about working out what the sight lines are. Who can see you? And when do you need the privacy?
If you only need privacy in your garden in summer, then you can plant deciduous trees and shrubs which lose their leaves in the winter. They’ll only give you garden privacy in the summer, but often let more light into your house in the darker days of winter.
Once again, don’t plant a tree right on the boundary. Try to plant it as close to where you want the privacy as possible. Because if you plant a tree for privacy closer to your terrace or seating area, even quite a small tree will interrupt the sight line.
Invest in good tree pruning
You can also increase the light in your garden if you carefully prune your trees for privacy or prune your tree to make it look more airy. Take out whole branches from the main trunk to make the canopy lighter.
When you cut across branches, then more growth sprouts and the canopy gets very dense. If you remove whole branches to give an open, spreading shape, you will get dappled light. But the branches will still screen you.
This blog post has more about pruning for privacy and light. And you’ll find my favourite choices for trees for privacy here.
3) How to make a garden privacy screen
There are lots of options for garden privacy screens. If you are looking at making this a DIY project, we strongly suggest you look for tutorials on YouTube that could be very helpful to you.
But here are some ideas to get you started.
A summer hedge
You can screen a bench, table or sun lounger by growing taller plants and flowers alongside it. This is sometimes call these summer hedges, because they usually die down in winter.
You’ll need to think about which way your border runs. The border could, for example, be between your terrace and the sight lines. It’s a lovely, easy way of creating more privacy in a garden in summer.
Use a trellis for privacy
Ordinary garden trellis are easily available from major shopping outlets or online and it is important to make sure that it’s properly secured. Sink trellis posts at least 12″ into the ground, fixing them with something like a cement post mix or if they’re attached to a wall, it must be strong and in good condition. The battens securing the trellis to the wall need to be long enough to hold it in place in a strong wind.
Once a trellis is covered with plants, it can create a ‘sail’ in high winds.
A DIY privacy screen from up-cycled materials
People see the screen not what lies beyond it, unless they go up close and peer through it (which most people would hesitate to do) therefore you don’t need the garden privacy screen to be solid. Gaps in a privacy screen allow light through and also mean it is less likely to blow over in a strong wind.
One idea of a DIY privacy screen that looks especially good with modern houses is one made out of wood and corrugated iron.
We look forward to hearing from you about creating privacy in your garden hwhere we can help you create privacy to your comfort, while enhancing the aesthetic of your garden.
We have the best knowledge and advice on how to use trees or hedges for privacy, planting tips, maintenance tips and we look forward to also sharing a few insights on projects that will be easy to do at home.
And remember:
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything” – Cicelo
And we can make the garden part happen.
