By 706170
United Kingdom
What do you suggest to plant in my garden to stop people looking in my house. I would like to have something that is about 6 to 10 feet high and would be green throughout the year. I thought about a rhodedendrum but it takes to long to grow. It would be about 10metres from the house. Thanking for your much appreciated advice in advance
- 18 Jan, 2018
Answers
I am tempted to suggest voile or net curtains to stop prying eyes. That's what we opted for as a plant screen also hides opportunistic thieves from being seen.
bamboo might be an option provided it isn't one of the running types.
19 Jan, 2018
I also think net curtains would be best. A big evergreen plant will make your house feel claustrophobic even at 10 meters away, and would also be boring to look at from the house.
With a net curtain you'd be able to see out but nobody would be able to see in.
They say nets collect dust, but everything does that.
19 Jan, 2018
I would suggest a vertical blind,as you can angle it any way,whilst still being able to see out..a bonus when it's very sunny too,to provide shade in your room....10 metres isn't really a long way from a house,if you had something with a far reaching root system,such as a tree of some height..
19 Jan, 2018
I really hate net curtains...sorry everyone! But we do have some nice wooden horizontal blinds here that the last occupant left and they are useful. However, I'm going to be daring here! In my last house I had a very open aspect at the front and loads of neighbours . I planted a clump forming golden Bamboo....planted it still in its metal pot...or you could grow it in a large pot on your garden. It's evergreen, light in texture and just gives a gentle screening to your home. But you must be careful to ensure that it can't get too rampant. Research which Bamboos are reasonably well-behaved and even when you think you've got the right form, you still need to keep those roots restricted...just in case, because they are a hell of a job to get rid of.
19 Jan, 2018
I don't want to make this a debate about blinds but I must say with vertical blinds people from the outside will still be able to see in when they are waling in the direction the blinds are angled.
It's really a matter of taste :)
19 Jan, 2018
Any shrub or tree will take time to reach six to ten feet if you just buy young specimens. You can buy more mature rhododendrons that are already this height. There is just one catch, they are expensive and you will probably need to pay the supplier to plant it for you.
19 Jan, 2018
Also the taller ones get pretty wide in time so you'd need to plant well away from the boundary and they would almost fill the area when mature. Shrubs that grow quickly to that height usually carry on growing quickly after that so its is a continual job keeping them trimmed. Screenning the windows rather than the garden seem the way to go . If yu are able to make the front garden really attractive it would attract more attention than looking through the windows.
Have a look at BarbaraK's recent blog on her retirement garden (Jan 16th) to see how she solved a front garden problem wonderfully.
19 Jan, 2018
Please have a look at my blog of July 8 2017. Take what you see in the very last photo posted in this blog and place it in front of your window.....problem solved:)
20 Jan, 2018
How about some variegated hollies or even a variegated holly hedge? There are some lovely bright ones available and although slow growing you could start with good sized ones without huge expense. Burglars certainly won't be lurking in it either!
A quick seasonal fix would be pampas grass, perhaps.
If you grow some interesting things people will be looking at those while walking by, instead of in your windows!
20 Jan, 2018
Check out Fargesia; there are several varieties, some are taller than others, so check the height and spread, but its the best bamboo if you don't want to worry about it being invasive - it forms a clump rather than running everywhere. If you're prepared to spend enough, you can buy quite a big one to plant, and it grows pretty quickly, certainly within 2 or 3 years it'll be over ten feet.
Lurking house burglars or other odd people can be a worry though - recommendation from the police is to plant something uncomfortable for them to hide in or behind, such as Berberis varieties (B. darwinii is evergreen, gets about 8 feet), Berberis wilsonii, also evergreen, gets bigger, but has an arching growth habit, so work out if there's room to accommodate it without scratching yourself whenever you go past.
20 Jan, 2018
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The downside is inviting unwanted "guests". I would opt for aluminum blinds, drapery or some window dressing.
18 Jan, 2018