How to screen off neighbours garden without being obvious!

[BrieAndChilli]

Moved into new house. Fence on one side is only 4ft ish, neighbour is friendly and chatty. Which is good, don’t want horrible grumpy neighbours.
However whenever we are in the garden eg painting a piece of furniture etc he is also put in his garden and spends the whole time chatting to us over the fence!
It’s his fence not ours so can’t replace it and it’s in good condition so can’t use the whole ‘we’ll pay to replace it as it’s old’ excuse.
Would like to screen off our patio area in some way that we can relax in the garden without feeling like we are on show and having to engage in endless conversation all the time.
Don’t want to make it obvious we are doing it to screen them off as don’t want to offend them.
Any bright ideas? The patios goes up to the fence on that side so not a good place for big trees/hedges etc

You could use bamboo in pots although are expensive,

We have the exact same problem. The fence is so low and the neighbours children talk to us everyone we go outside. I want to be able to relax without having to talk to them.
I’m thinking of either trellis or bamboo

Pergola? You can get ones with lattice/screen sides...

Garden sail...

I had this in my last house, it was a real pain. I ended up putting a washing line by the fence and hiding behind the clothes although that didn't always work!

Could you put one of those sails up? For shade of course, at an angle so it goes low on their side and gives some privacy.

You could grow bamboo in pots that you strategically place on your patio.

Plant trees and shrubs against the fence that will eventually provide privacy. This will take some time though.

You could suggest adding trellis to the top of the 4 ft fence to give height and again grow something up it to block them out.

Or you can offer to replace the low fence with something higher, or put you own fence on your side that is higher. You don't need to put their needs first. The need to not offend them doesn't trump your desire for privacy. My neighbours are perfectly lovely and I'm happy to have a chat with them or a drink, but I still have a 6 ft fence.

Is the fence gappy? Would putting a privacy screen like bamboo (natural or plastic? or trellis help? I find a 4 foot fence with no gaps so much for private than one with.

A sail is a genius idea, not hugely expensive either. You can say you need shade for the kids (if you have them).

We have the same issue and bamboo slats wire tied to fence helped so no gaps now even if still just 4ft. They still sit right next to fence next to our patio (despite having a huge garden) meaning they hear everything we say when in that part of our house but not much can do about that!

Buy a dog and say you need to keep the dog in the garden 🤣 joking obviously but it would work! Trellis or bamboo is probably the best option? Or a line of hedges, it wouldn’t work immediately, but eventually they’d be tall enough to block them.

Oh when one of the neighbours proceeded to look into our open door right through our house at dh and speak we knew then it was time for more privacy lol

I would also say trellis then you can say you want to grow climbers so they aren't offended and you get privacy. Star jasmine is evergreen and grows quickly.

Look at either bamboo type screens which can go quite high or use the shade triangle angled low on their side.

Just build your own fence on your side of his. Nothing wrong with wanting privacy. If he is upset by that it is his problem not yours.

Bamboo screens need posts the same height if it is a long fence or they could tear in wind but fine if just using as barrier for a gappy fence the same height as the screen.

You could tell them you need to cat proof your garden to keep in the rescue cat you're thinking of getting so it doesn't mess in their garden ... doing them a favour ... nicer than then looking at chicken wire ... yada yada ...

Then stick up a six foot fence.

We have the same issue so look forward to reading the recommendations! Our neighbours on both sides are lovely, and we get on well. When we're allowed, we BBQ in each other's gardens and go round for drinks etc. But sometimes I just want to sit in the garden on my own and read! Both neighbours seem to want to be social all the time and although they're great I just want my garden to be a peaceful place sometimes!

You could tell him that your insurance company is demanding a higher fence? And you're happy to pay for it and arrange the work. If your neighbour says no, erect your own fence on your side.

Pergola 7' high with a swing seat and trellis either side. Buy the biggest pots you can afford (or preferably break through the paving) and plant an evergreen honeysuckle and evergreen clematis. Smile and do as you like, you need to enjoy your property.

I put up a pergola with a lattice on that side and grew fast growing clumbers up it. Still friendly with the (new) neighbours but it no longer feels as if we are in the garden together.

If you can't build a fence on you side or add to theirs you could get a couple of big pots, concrete a post in each (leave drainage hole as well), then add compost and plant a climber eg clematis. Put in front of the fence on the patio.

How about friendly conversation every so often?

I'm going to do the same. Although I've decided that I'm going to move the kids trampoline in front of the lower fence then frame it as 'oh I don't want them intruding when you're in the garden so I'm going to put an extra fence up'

I have five 2ft tall planters (cheap plastic ones) with 4ft tall bamboo in each. It screens off about 12ft of patio, without looking too oppressive. For extra privacy, I put up the giant parasol and tilt it so that it’s hard to see the patio, even from further down their garden.

If you make these changes gradually, it shouldn’t seem too unfriendly!

Definitely plant some screening alone the fence line now. They will take time to grow so the sooner they’re in the better. Red robins are lovely. Laurel. Ceonothus. You don’t necessarily need a continuous line, even with gaps it will prevent the line of sight into certain areas.