New Build Garden - what to do?

[mummyklou]

Hi everyone, we have recently bought a new build house and finally the grass is starting to look normal and not full of weeds! We plan to put a corner decking at the right hand corner (see photo) but not sure what else to do with the garden. It is north facing but gets a lot of Sun (mostly from the middle to the right) due to no houses at the left side. Our neighbours have unfortunately just got some paving down literally the other side to where we had wanted to put the decking. We have purchased the decking so still will but is there anything we can do to increase privacy? The fence slats are quite wide - would it be easy enough to “fill” these in with small strips of wood? Thank you!

I'd be tempted to grow things in the fence instead of using wood.

I'd grow things too, and if funds allow, plant some pleached trees like red robin along the back. It's going to take some time, there's very few quick fixes if you want it to look beautiful.

I would start by sticking some trees in. There is plenty of space and they will give you privacy and encourage nature. Maybe a beautiful flowering cherry or a rowan.

I reckon there is easily space for 2 or 3 trees

Yes to growing things- if you create your enclosure naturally it will bring you so much more pleasure. It will also cushion noise better. You could put a pergola over your decking (4 posts and cross bars) and grow something fast growing like a chocolate vine over it- that will take about three years to cover but when it does you will have a green arbour. Plant some fruit trees or trees that suit a smaller garden like an amelanchier or a betula jacomondi. You can grow evergreen scented trachelospermum (star jasmine) up the fences or honeysuckle. There are so many possibilities- if you want ideas, programmes like Garden Rescue (BBC) are always transforming new build gardens- you don’t have to do everything but just take some of the ideas.

Does the wall get any sun? If it does you could put fruit trees there. Or some enthusiastic climbing roses.

I would plant shrubs and small trees to get some more privacy. I would sit caution with growing anything that will climb the fence. Invariably, they will create issues with the fence itself with the weight of the plant on the fence, or the growing stems damaging the fence slats and prying them apart. You could consider attaching some kind of screening to the fence around your deck to add a bit mor privacy there. When you buy shrubs bear in mind how fast they grow and how big they get. Some can get quite big, and some may need regular cutting for example. GL

I agree with putting some trees in. I would have to block the line of sight of that window overlooking you, and some others to break up that building which dominates the garden. Since that is the south side, choose trees with a relatively open canopy to give you light, open shade rather than dense shade.

If you are putting decking in the back corner, it would be quite easy to put a couple of raised planters built into the decking with tall posts in them. You can then put wires between those posts and train climbers along them, just in front of your exiting fence. This will mean the fence doesn't get damaged by climbers, you can make it any height you want and the climbers get a good amount of good soil to start them off.

If you plant a tree about 50cm to the left of the football it will completely obscure the overlooking window. Often when trying to hid something people plant right up against it, when tricking the eye from the foreground is often better.

The fence slats are quite wide - would it be easy enough to “fill” these in with small strips of wood? It would be very difficult and, as the wood ages it will shrink/swell/warp and look gappy and messy. If you want to cover the gaps then fixing something on top over lapping the gaps might be your best bet. Trellis and climbers perhaps?

Thank you all so much for your kind replies! I understand it won’t be a quick fix for privacy, I think because I’m a complete novice when it comes to gardening, it can seem quite intimidating! I’ve also never had a new build garden with nothing in it, so that makes it more difficult. I will look at getting some trees and shrubs. My husband doesn’t like the idea of planting in the middle of the garden as he likes the open (empty!) look, but I do feel it needs things to make it an actual garden! Thank you :)

Unfortunately not much, only a little in the morning - the sun hits from about a third in to the rest of the right hand side.

I agree with others that you need some trees and/or shrubs. You don't have to plant in the middle of the garden, but around the outside edges will soften things, and give you more privacy over time.

You could also get some bamboo in large pots for a quick hit of easy green that would go against the fencing to soften things and to give a bit more privacy. I think planting it in the ground is often a bad idea as it can take over but it does well in pots, and doesn't get as big!

I'd make sure the decking area is large enough for seating, a table etc and also some pots to soften it. If you leave some planting area between the decking and the fence then it will be easier - plants are usually happier in the soil.

I'd also put in a wide border on both sides - not straight - wavy and - as others have said get some trees in. Check the eventual height they get too carefully. All that will soften it and reduce noise and give you more privacy.

And the wall on the left is lovely. A real feature.

Remember to check the final size of the tree and don’t plant too near the wall and fence.
Amelanchier is a nice medium size tree. Viburnum opulus grows quickly but doesn’t get too big in my garden- both grow as multi stemmed shrubs rather than single stemmed trees in my garden. Good fillers.