Best plants for privacy?

[Bravobravobravo]

The fence one some side of our garden stops half way down, and thanks to my neighbour cutting back nearly everything over the winter there is no privacy between our gardens anymore at that end. There is a tree remaining which means we can’t just extend the fencing so I would really appreciate any suggestions of quick growing and easy to look after plants that we could use to add a bit of privacy back in. Thanks!

Is there a hedge there, just cut down now, or have the plants gone?

Some pics would help! Does the area get much sun?

@MrsBertBibby thank you for your reply- yes a pic would be helpful, will try to take one later! Nothing there at all now expect for the apple tree on the boundary and a very short wire fence. Garden is south facing so gets plenty of sun.

Then the world is your oyster! Do you know they the neighbour did this? Did the old plants take all their sun? I would talk to them as they may already have plans

In terms of plants, you could have a buddleia, they grow incredibly fast. See current thread!

Ceanothus is evergreen, we have Ceanothus Dark Star which has got to 6 feet in a couple of years. There are loads of kinds on ceanothus, so get one to fit your needs.

If you want a more formal hedge, Portuguese Laurel is worth a look.

Something easy and evergreen could be some kind of laurel, plus it's reasonably fast growing. We also have holly, conifers (bane of my life!) and an olive as screening, although they were mostly all planted before we moved in.

Personally, I would try and make sure you go for an evergreen, to give you year round privacy.

Don't forget that fast growing can also mean extremely large.

Thank you all for the suggestions, that gives me lots to look into. I don’t want to plant anything that is massive but just gives a bit of privacy back- unfortunately neighbour has a habit of standing there and staring at/ talking to us a lot when we are in the garden and I just want to be able to sit there and relax without engaging with anyone sometimes!

Laurel grows fast but gets large.

I have prunus lusitanica - everygreen portuguese laurel - it gets big too very bushy. But not the thick branches of ordinary laurel. So easier to control. Probably a slower grower than ordinary laurel.

If you don't mind very prickly, a pyracantha would be great. They are evergreen, flower in June and are fantastic for bees, then have gorgeous red of orange berries in autumn which will bring all the blackbirds to your yard.

I had to take ours out as it was too close to the house and was blocking the light, but it was a glorious thing.

Vicious, though, if you want to prune it.

www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/pyracantha-to-grow/

Nothing is massive if you prune it back. But you’re not going to get anything big enough to provide privacy then simply randomly stops growing. Plants dont work like that.

Cotinus is worth a look, the purple leaves ones are stunning.

www.gardensillustrated.com/plants/shrubs/cotinus-smoke-trees-grow-autumn-colour/

I have the same issue OP, I'm planning on planting pyracantha. It grows fast, is evergreen, berries in the autumn and flowers in spring/summer.

Ah I see, pp already suggested it. It's absolutely gorgeous