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?

Why not just go to your neighbours, explain that you would like to put a fence up to help keep the children's balls out of your garden, in a nice way and just get on with it. Be chatty and nice and why on earth would they be upset?

Wow! thanks for all the great ideas. I'm ok with pots and flowerbeds etc but am a bit of a gardening novice when it comes to choosing big structural plants. Love the idea of clematis - do you think I would be able to grow it big enough during the winter to cover the trellis in spring? Leylandii (sadly) is not an option and as for knotweed...evil stuff! Would uproot the flippin house! Tis a south facing garden with the fence in question on the left so plenty of sunshine. I'll probably ease the subject into conversation at some point - am actually quite reasonable in real life so wouldn't just spring it on them. Does honeysuckle grow happily combined with clematis? If they are good flowerbed fellows then I might really go to town with jazzing up the new fence. If the plants grow as fast as this thread has done overnight then I will be very happy! Thanks again for all contributions... except the naughty ones... you know who you are!! My mum and dad had a lovely pampas grass thing in the front garden but it was in the 70's so everyone did...maybe my whole street was having more fun than I knew... eek!

Have a look at the link I gave you, that should give you plenty of information, failing that go and look at the garden centre near you. The labels on the plant will tell you what sun levels the plants need, it's growth rate etc. Most plants in the UK have a rest over the winter, as temperatures and light levels are so low.

'Nice big fence and "Oh my! How did that get here."'

I love it!

Not the leylandi, I've just had one chopped down so only three to go. Bloody awful things.
Had I not been in such a rush, I am sure I wouldn't have bought our house because of those twatting things.

Claretcake If the neighbours have a nice garden , you could always ask for their advise. They will be so pleased that you trust their thoughts about whats best as a trailing fast growing trellis covering thingummy that they will offer lots of information on how to hide them and their kids balls without even realising , then when its done and flourished and they they will sit back , sigh and say "aww bless, we helped her create that lovely dividing fence , she couldn't have done it with out us, aren't we nice "

you will be happy and hidden

they will feel all feel good factor and self righteous

win win

jobs a good un

Go round, tell them you're putting a fence up. They'll be delighted and put one of their own up on the other side. Whole street will have them soon.

Seriously, what's not to like? Do they spend hours leaning on the fence trying to talk to you or something?

Tell them about the fence and invite them round for mulled wine ...

I agree just put a simple nice big fence up, don't be dallying around with trellis and climby things as it will be a massive faff and then you'll have to cultivate the climby things and obviously. have to put up a massive trellis. Posts plus trellis plus plants will cost lots whereas posts plus cheap panels can be very affordable and much easier to maintain.

If you are end of terrace that fence might be the responsibility of the other house, might be worth checking although I honestly don't think they're going to mind someone sorting out and paying for a nice fence.

Clematis montana is what you want. Fast growing and very pretty. Or Passiflora (Passion Flower). Either will provide you with an excellent screen.

I don't know much this will help, because we have lovely neighbours (and hopefully we're also lovely neighbours), but when we decided this year to renew the fence, we went for standard fencing for the first half of the length of the garden (so each side could have some privacy for having people around for barbecues, etc.); then sturdy trellis of the www.wickes.co.uk/fencing/trellis+screenings/icat/ftrellis/ kind for the rest which allowed sunlight through but not footballs, etc. The cost really isn't that much different for either type. Then you could just plant some rambling roses up against the trellis fencing. Our neighbours were pretty happy with that arrangement.

just go for it. most people want some privacy and your neighbours will probably like it. As a compromise you could put up a 5 ft fence with a 1 ft trellis on top.
If you want to be more devious you could say you were planning to buy a dog and want to make the garden dog proof. Then once the fence is up 'forget' about buying the dog or say you've changed your mind.

saw this article on pampas grass a signal for swingers and thought of this thread

Mouse stoppit! I'm still disturbed after you mentioned the swinging pampas thing last night!

Thank you all for the very helpful suggestions. We are definitely going for the trellis/clematis option. I know I'm being a bit of a wuss with worrying how the neighbours will react to a 6ft fence but it doesn't feel right putting one in after all this time - if the sodding builders had done it in the first place there would be no issue! I'm going to get the plants and 'engineer' a few chats over the fence in the spring so no shock to next door when it does go up - hopefully we will trigger a trend and then all the blank canvasness of our new gardens will have a nice splash of colour. Great gardening links BTW - I'm ouching at some of the prices but at least will have the winter to plan it all.

Don't ever think of growing leylandii trees. That will REALLY upset your neighbours!

I recommend www.modularwall.co.uk