neighbours extension totally overlooks my garden, aibu to put up a 8ft bamboo screen?

[twoopsie]

Its only just dawned on me now the windows have gone in how overlooked my garden will be with neighbours extension.

I want to put in a 8ft by 10ft bamboo screen well within my boundrys. It would block out their side view but not any light.

Aibu? They didn't consult me at all about having four huge windows overlooking my garden.

*think!

My bamboo was already at 13 foot tall and I planted in a very large plastic pot - instant screening! You also get the benefit of the extra height in the pot and you could put the pots on some decking for even more height. Just make sure you keep well watered and they are protected enough that the pots aren't going to get blown over!

You could use builders buckets. These are only £3.06 and are 28litres. You can get bigger ones for not much more. You can buy the same thing in green from a gardening centre but they cost loads more.

I think the black ones look ok.

If you weight down the bottom with a lot of stones or old bricks it will be good for drainage and so they won't blow over.

If you need a whole load of them then you could buy a bulk bag of enriched soil. It's amazing stuff and makes my plants grow like crazy. You would gave to check its good for bamboo though. I Think it cost me £70 - £80 for a bulk bag - it's loads cheaper than buying bags from the gardening centre.

If you want to save more money then you could just get a bulk bag of normal topsoil.

Once you have done everything it might be worth considering an automatic watering system. It's really not expensive and means you won't risk killing your plants. speaks from experience

This is an eg of enriched top soil. It's £78 a bag. I can't copy and paste but Google enriched topsoil and there are loads of suppliers. I got mine cheap from my builders merchants.

I agree with your soil suggestion, Rattie but for a tall and long lived bamboo, 80+ litres would be better. They might do a season or two in something smaller but can go up to 5 years and grow taller in a bin+ sized container.

I couldn't picture how big 28 litres was but I agree that the bigger the better. I have some really big builder buckets. They are about a metre across the top. They have lasted at least 4 years with soil and a shrub in.

OP
Have you actually CHECKED the paperwork to see if the windows will be obscured
and speak to building control either way as new windows should NOT overlook your garden

I think it's a lot to do with bamboos dislike of being root bound, Rattie! I have just found some 75l builders tubs online I ought to treat my poor olive and fig trees to some more room, really!

That's ace thanks so muchProcrastinaRemNunc! Did you buy plants already a few ft or grow from seed?

How much did you pay for the 75l tubs? Can see some for 13pounds, they look pretty cheap to me. Although this whole project isn't going to be that cheap lol

Bamboo isn't cheap. If you want it thick enough to screen a 10 foot long stretch you might be looking at £500.

Well I've seen plants 6ft for 20 quid, was thinking about getting 5 of them.

If I cut out the shape in concrete with an angle grinder do I still need to plant in plastic?

Side windows, or rear first floor windows, do not necessarily have to be obscured. We have just had planning granted for an extension which includes new first floor rear windows, and moves a couple of side windows (not by much) and none of them have to be obscured. The neighbours did object, and ask specifically for them all to be obscured glass (including ground floor patio doors) but te planners did not consider this a reasonable ask.

Be careful re: fence heights. Our planners were very interested in our garden wall ( built by neighbours, and over 2.5m, no planning application) No idea if planners will take it further (although will be quite pleased if they do, as te wall is very intrusive and dominating in our garden).

You can get cheap pots of bamboo but they usually only have a few colms per pot. (Colm=bamboo stick). It'll be 3 or 4 years before really start blocking the view. I've got a row of golden bamboo screening out the neighbours. They like lots of water! The can get blown over too, particularly when the pot is drier and lighter. They do warn you though. The leaves curl round a bit when they're thirsty.

The other problem with bamboo: They're addictive! I just had to buy another couple of varieties.

This says it has 6-8 sticks, good deal for 20?

I have bamboo, and they have really bushed out in just one year! I put this down to almost maniacal watering, its almost a hobby for me...."just off to water my 'boos"....
So rig up a soaker hose on a timer if you have a life better things to do than water bamboo twice a day.

Definitely go for 6'+. Better not to start babies in pots, apparently.

You could angle grind some concrete out but tbh, I've decided to contain mine in part by choice. I don't want them gallivanting off over the neighbours gardens much as they'd deserve it and for me, although they will need more water, they will also be easier to divide up in a few years, which is a chore I'd dread otherwise!

I came across the 12/13 mark for 75l builders tubs too. These were 'gorilla' and meant to be fairly sturdy, although I'm tempted to go for a 80l bins and add a concrete base, for stability.

Like Tiggy, I'm expecting to have several varieties! Very addictive :D

This thread has reminded me that I need to split & repot mine this coming year. Not a fun job. I need a new, sharp spade.

I've just walked past a pub with some in pots. Most looked awful, what's it called when I feather is almost bare? They provided about as much cover as a flag pole.

Have the people in pots got them bushy providing lots of screening? Or mor threadbare?

You could angle grind some concrete out but tbh, I've decided to contain mine in part by choice. I don't want them gallivanting off over the neighbours gardens much as they'd deserve it and for me, although they will need more water, they will also be easier to divide up in a few years, which is a chore I'd dread otherwise!

We'll the other side is concrete also so I think they will be contained OK. I just remember growing things in pots and they never grow as well.

When someone splits them do they have lots left over?

The fullness depends somewhat on the variety you choose. If the conditions you provide are ideal, they'll thrive either in pots or the ground.