Lack of Privacy in Garden

[Aquarius1234]

I don't like my garden, lack of privacy overlooked, terrace house.
Any ideas how to improve it ?
I hardly spend time in it or make it nicer for this reason.

https://www.gardenninja.co.uk/overlooked-back-garden/
www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/how-increase-garden-privacy/
Here's some ideas but you might find some more responses if you can move your post to the Gardening Board,.

I planted trees in pots and placed them at strategic points in the garden so it protected my favourite sitting spot.

Work out how you want to use the garden...to sit in or grow things or parties?

Okay thanks. Just to have the option to use during summer months occasionally for sitting/ eating. Shaded area would help.

Photograph? What are the current boundaries like — fences, hedges? How close are the houses overlooking you?

Very tall bamboo (non spreading type, in very large pots).

There you go..

Did you know that you can buy mature trees? Just Google it. I have been looking the other day. Will cost a few hundred per tree though. These companies can also provide a planting service, often. Should provide some privacy besides looking lovely.

Trees at the bottom, trellis slightly above fence on both sides.
Could do a pergola with thick plant cover nearer the house to stop upstairs overlooking, or one of those sails attached to house and arch?

No never heard of that. I'm rubbish at gardening so would want someone to get the right thing and sort it without issue.

I guess you want a tree thar doesn't grow too high and just stays at that height and does its own thing through the seasons.

I have zero privacy as the council in their wisdom allowed a great big house to be built right at the end of my courtyard with a 9 foot prison fence in the garden. So I grew this great big tree for privacy and now everyone is whingeing that it blocks their light.
Well I'll take it down when that house and fence is taken down so they can lump it.
Everyone in my street opposed this build but they built it anyway.

I think your garden has great potential OP! It doesn’t look super overlooked - looks pretty normal for a lot of streets in the UK. One thing to remember is most of the time your neighbours aren’t looking out of their windows- they’re busy elsewhere - so you won’t be being watched.
a few tree at the bottom or hedges might be nice but have a think about how much shading you want in your garden. Also trees will take up a lot of space - would your prefer flowers or grass in that space?

What type of tree would be able to grow and fit by the fence/ gate shed?
I like to be able to look out the window and see a nice tree/ bushes etc. I don't need to be out there etc.
I would like the patio to be completely shielded though and private. Or during the summer months.
I use the sun to dry clothes through the glass patio doors during most months of the year.

what about Portuguese laurel hedge all the way round - evergreen, fast growing, compact but doesn’t have the issues that conifers have re: too fast growing

I wouldn't put laurel in all the way around it'll take up too much garden space.

I'd put something like a Red Robin or a small cherry tree that would be wafty in summer. I don't think you need evergreen, which can get clumpy and in the way as you only want something for the spring summer not winter.

Also buy a big tilting umbrella for your seating area.

https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/20-trees-for-small-gardens/

Lots of ideas here, just check how big they grow...you don't want too big.

Water whatever you plant thoroughly twice a week for a year. So a bucket or a whole watering can of water at a time, more if it's a dry summer. Now would be a good time to plant it and watch a video on how to plant small trees, you need to dig a bigger hole than you think.

I don't know if it would be possible to have a completely private patio.

It doesn't look that overlooked from the picture you've posted. As PP have said, most neighbours don't stand in their upstairs windows nosing down in other people's gardens. Do you?

Bamboo planter at the end OP. Like mine, attached, kite shades in the summer nearer the house and some other planting along the sides

Looks quite private now. Can you be seen much when in the courtyard?

Do you have to trim those much?

Hi OP.
I think you need some evergreen trees.
you can get ‘pleached’ ones - like in this pic.
they are not cheap though. And are on these frames so depends how you feel about that. At first they don’t look as great but once they grow obviously look better. They have clear stems and you can get ones with a 2m clear stem so they take up less space om garden.
you can get half standard trees which have a 2m single clear stem too.

Pleached trees are very expensive

It looks an entirely normal garden and not unusually lacking privacy. Just use it. No one is going to be spending time watching you unless you are doing something really exciting!

@Aquarius1234 nope, trimmed them once in the four years I've had them

Maybe get a pergonal and some climbing plants like jasmin, passion fruit or something for the seating area.

You want a tree at the bottom left corner and perhaps another in that area on the left where the bushes.

Evergreen best if you want year round privacy. Some good not too big evergreen options:

Magnolia Grandiflora - flowering

Olive tree - delicate, good for near the house

Palms - if you like the tropical look

Photinia, Ilex, pittosporum, privet - look for ones pruned to lollipop shape as these are naturally bush shape

If you don’t mind deciduous there are loads more options - ornamental apple/cherry/pear trees are great for this and bring lovely blossom. Fig is very fast growing. Amelanchier. Sorbus or other rowan. Birch.

Paramount plants is a good website to help you see prices and narrow down options.

Our garden is smaller than yours and much more overlooked (3 storey terraced houses right behind) but feels quite private thanks to all the small trees we and neighbours have planted.

That doesn’t look any more overlooked than most gardens.

Perhaps buy a bigger shed, and sit in it.