Screening for a small garden to provide instant cover?

[Magstermay]

Hello, we moved in to our house 3 years ago but haven't done much to the garden yet (2 small children). The house behind us had a large horse chestnut and lots of other plants that provided excellent screening and we weren't overlooked. However they unexpectedly cut it all back a few weeks ago which has left us overlooked and the lovely rambling Rose is now drooping as it was supported in their plants!

I guess I'm going to have to cut that right back, but I would like to get some screening in place for the summer so we can enjoy the garden in private again. It faces SW so is the sunniest spot in the garden.

We don't have a huge budget but can anyone recommend plants that will grow quickly and are fairly easy to maintain? I was thinking of a flowering cherry but I'm guessing it would take a few years to get to any decent height?

[shovetheholly]

You could put a tree in that corner: something non-spreading and upright would give you a visual focal point to draw the eye away from the house and some screening in summer. One of the more upright cherries is a good idea!

I like the way you are approaching it in terms of aesthetics, because as I often say on these threads, the biggest gardening mistakes tend to be made by people looking for instant and absolute screening with no consideration of the beauty of their space. You could plant a leylandii and have absolutely privacy, but it wouldplunge your house into darkness, make your garden dry and hideous, and eventually cost you a small fortune when it inevitably gets out of control. Better to accept a more delicate and less absolute visual barrier and enjoy some light.

[Magstermay]

Thank you Holly, it's not often I get a compliment when it comes to gardening! Do you have any recommendations for buying a tree that will be tall enough to provide some cover this summer, or is that too big an ask?

[shovetheholly]

it really depends on what you like - without actually seeing the space it is hard for me to judge and we might not have the same tastes! Liquidambar, betula jacquemontii, and upright cherries are all worth a look

Go for something with year-round interest and don't go for something spreading - it will take up too much space. If you want instant height, you can buy that, but expect to pay £££ for it - plenty of specialist tree places will sell you a tall tree that is several years old for several hundred pounds, whereas a maiden tree will cost £20-40.

[jelly10]

We are looking to fill a similar gap, and we've just bought an ornamental pear on a 6' trunk for £199. It's being planted next week . The tree man said they're great for year round interest and naturally grow into a nice shape.

[bookbook]

I have just planted a flagpole cherry - Prunus Amanogawa in a my DD's new garden. It came at about 6-7' - just at the moment poked above the fence. Bought it at a good local nursery in a pot, not too expensive .