Fretting over the garden fence?

[ClaretCake]

Am in a real dilemma over this and would really appreciate some ideas.

We moved into a new-build last winter ? row of 4 houses and we have an end one so there?s a decorative 6ft brick wall on one side. However, the builders (in their infinite wisdom), decided to separate each garden with one 6x6 fence panel and the rest of the fencing just 3ft high. We have a nice, polite, neighbourly relationship with the family next door rather than being bosom buddies but by the end of the summer I just wished the builders had put the more usual 6ft fencing all the way down. Next door have 4 boys who play football at every opportunity and, apart from constantly having to throw balls back, it would have been nice to be able to relax in our own garden space without being over-looked all the time.

Putting 6ft fencing in down the length of the garden a year after moving in seems a bit harsh and anti-social so we are thinking of topping up the short panels with chunky trellis that matches the fence and then planting something that will grow to fill the space. Fence is technically ours so we have battens on our side to fix something to. In my cranky moments I daydream of nurturing a beautiful row of Leylandii trees but our garden isn?t really big enough and dh keeps reminding me of how prolifically they grow and that the roots would probably affect the foundations in no time.

I am torn between craving a bit more privacy and not wanting the neighbours to think we?re being antisocial? any ideas?

[OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus]

YWBU (and pretty stupid) to plant those devil trees (sorry, watching Omen 3) but a trellis with a nice honeysuckle or similar would work.

[OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus]

But you have to say "fuck" a lot when planting, they won't take otherwise.

[JjingleBeanplusPudalltheway]

I'd do it but I am rude and antisocial.

We unfortunatly share a front garden and every time I walk down the path which is on our half I suggest we fence our half off --just so next door would be left gateless-- as there children throw our stones everywhere block the drains and leave prams and bikes in my ruddy way!

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

A nice large bush, that's what you need.

[CardyMow]

Could you be more careful with your thread titles? I read that as 'frotting over the garden fence' and was all prepared to come and tell you that UABU, it's a bit public.

. I'll put my glasses back on and try to read better this time.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Do not plant those tree's, please!

The trellacing and a nice mature ever green climber is a good idea for more privacy without offending your neighbours. (not IVY)

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Dare I Google?

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

you sould find something nice here

[OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus]

What, ivy? It just grows enormous great roots. As does a Virginia Creeper (not recommended to our noob either).

[fit2drop]

clematis ...nuff said

oh and its fuckin fast grower too.

we had it for privacy till the dog ate it, but thats a whole different thread

[OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus]

I had a clematis in a previous home, there is no way to kill that fucker.

[fit2drop]

OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus

get a labrador, that'll kill it


pampas grass!!!!!! aint that the sign of "swingers live here"

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

OP strikes me as someone with not a lot of Garden knowledge Old Lady!

No to the knotweed, no to the pampas grass and no to bamboo when we are at it.

[AgnesBligg]

Right, you need some sense talking into you.

Build the fecking fence!

Stop worrying ooh they might think me anti neighbour. You are anti neighbour. Everybody is! Put up the fence. In two months time (albeit your name is MUD upndown the street) everyone will have forgotten the lack of fence in the olden days, ie now.

No silly old lleylanddddii. Big high fence.

[fit2drop]

agnes

you're all heart you aint ya

[TuftyFinch]

Go out for the day.
Arrange for some garden fence putter uppers to come.
Fence putter uppers put up a 6ft fence.
You come home.
You go in the garden to inspect the trellis.
There is no trellis.
There's a 6ft fence.
You make loud conversation along the lines of WTF they weren't supposed to put a bloody great big fence up! Jesus Christ! (you can use an expletive of your choosing).
Go round to neighbours with wine.
Say 'oh! my! giddy aunt! I am so sorry they were just supposed to put a bit of trellis up fo rmy lovely jasmine. I will sort it out, don't worry.

Never sort it.
Everyone gets used to it.

This is what I dream of doing.
We have NO fence. Think about that.

[NhameCage]

Does it get a lot of sun? Do you know how it faces? We might be able to recommend something. Don't go the conifer route, there are plenty of alternatives and you'll end up spending all your bloody time trimming the things or leaving it too late and having to get in a tree surgeon. Also, nothing grows under them so you lose one half of your garden.

[OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus]

Fit2drop, I had a terrier mongrel at the time, made no difference. And I may have been being flippant about the knotweed (it's actually illegal to grow the stuff, OP) and the pampas grass. And themouse is right about bamboo, too.

Sorry OP, I'll revert to a naice trellis and honeysuckle.

It's bee-friendly and everything.

Btw, check what you are allowed to put up, many new-builds have restrictions in place about fence heights and stuff.

[TuftyFinch]

Curious post Nhamecage.

hmmmmm

[OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus]

What, you mean sensible?

[fit2drop]

OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus

hmm , maybe its just a Lab thing , or more likely just my naughty lab

to be fair I read that Clematis bulbs although can be toxic to dogs if ingested. We were lucky in that all he did was chew the stems and dug up the bulbs then lost interest once the damage was done.

[OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus]

Could have done with him 20-odd years ago!

[AgnesBligg]

fit2drop hahaha!

I would follow the tuftyfinch direction here. Nice big fence and "Oh my! How did that get here."

[piprobincomesbobbobbobbinalong]

Put up a nice fence.
Let you neighbours know in advance (they will be secretly relieved).

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

I vote no, to the high fence by stealth.

Either do the high fence and be straight forward about it, or do the trellacing with plants.

At the end of the day, it will piss your neighbours off more that you are treating them like dick heads by insulting their intelligence with the pretend fencers made a mistake line, they will pretend they believe your lie, spend the evening being nice to each other and they will hate you for ever more silently afterwards if you go down that route.