Creating a barrier

[littlebilliie]

I'm looking to create a barrier for a neighbour's illegal structure (it's a planning issue but a long story). We need to create privacy in our garden.

We need something that will grow inside large pots or a constructed bed (that we can remove at some point) that we grow up to around 4 metres.

I’m having exactly the same issue. Bamboo?

I’m probably getting Laurel to plant a permanent hedge and bamboo to provide some screening in the meantime

I was thinking that but worried about it's invasive nature

@HasaDigaEebowai

I’m having exactly the same issue. Bamboo?

I’m probably getting Laurel to plant a permanent hedge and bamboo to provide some screening in the meantime

It such a horrible situation I can't even look at them now at the position they have put us in.

So I now need to start a safe bamboo growing thread

I feel the same about my neighbours. I just want to pretend they’re not there now.

I have bamboo along my driveway and it’s created a good barrier. It does spread but not so that it’s out of control or anything. I didn’t plant it though and so I don’t know the variety.

I’ve just bought an evergreen honeysuckle for a similar purpose and to supplement the laurels I’ve also put in. Clematis Armandii might be a similar alternative if you have the right conditions?

Now to construct the climbing frame for it.

You can get bamboo that is clump forming rather than spreading.

Yes, clump forming bamboo is fine to plant. Any plant will do better in the ground than a pot.

I was thinking of putting it in along in a brick/block raised bed. I need to find a restful way to create harmony from this stressful situation

I also need a evergreen hedge that will grow in shaded area

@AvoidingPandaEyes

I’ve just bought an evergreen honeysuckle for a similar purpose and to supplement the laurels I’ve also put in. Clematis Armandii might be a similar alternative if you have the right conditions?

Now to construct the climbing frame for it.

They all look good, though we need to shield a structure of 5 metres high and our support would also be illegal. I'm going to go with the tall bamboo

This is my situation - I get a little morning sun and a tiny amount of dappled shade moving along the border for the rest of the day. Cherry Laurel is doing really well* (about 12 inches since last autumn). Photinia, Garrya, Aucuba and a Rhododendron about 6 inches growth but not shooting up. A Yew I planted in full shade about 2 months ago has surprised me with a couple of inches so far. We also have privet that is ancient and about 4m tall so it obviously copes with shade.

• I wish it grew faster but short of growing leylandii, I couldn’t find another faster growing evergreen. I also planted hornbeam which has put on about 18 inches since last summer and is semi evergreen if you prune it correctly but I obviously didn’t manage that as mine was bare over winter 🙁

Cherry Laurel will eventually do the job but not overnight unless you buy really big plants.

I've found a place that sells established bamboo so although expensive, the price of sanity is worth it

How about some pleached trees?

Might be expensive though.

Russian Vine, known as mile a minute, would quickly cover a trellis. It does rapidly spread, although as far as I know not from the root. But it would grow in a planter or large pot.
I used it to cover a hideous brick structure while other slower plants grew. It was quite easy to remove when no longer needed. To keep it in trim was just a matter of clipping it.

I agree with ChardonnaysPetDragon. You sound desperate enough for it to be worth investing in pleached trees, or even pleached shrubs for example photinia.

This site seems to have a great variety (no prices that I can see though).

Having said that, running bamboo in a raised bed with a root barrier on your side but not on theirs might be justified

Elaeagnus grows fast, can be trimmed to any shape, copes with drought, and the flowers don't look like much but smell amazing. You can get evergreen ones.

@TurquoiseBaubles

Having said that, running bamboo in a raised bed with a root barrier on your side but not on theirs might be justified

I wish I could but I sincerely want to be good neighbour even if they don't want to be.

The Middle Sized Garden blog has some good advice on garden privacy
here

My neighbours have built an ugly outbuilding, that I can see from my new seating area. I've decided to cement a couple of fence posts into the ground, attach some wires or a trellis panel and grow a climbing rose and an evergreen clematis up it. I think it'd be quicker and easier than a hedge which will require gallons of water through summer

russian vine up a trellis?
or virginia creeper?
not evergreen but lovely autumn colour and the 'branches' give good coverage.

is that the planning issue I remember from about 10years ago?

how about cherry laurel?

or you could make yourself (or buy it) an instant hedge screen like this