Hey everyone! I recently moved into a new house about 8 months ago and I'm finally ready to tackle the garden after getting through the rest of the DIY projects. We have a straight section of fence that's about 14m long, and we'd like to create some privacy since there's an 8m stretch we are particularly focusing on.
Initially, I thought about using evergreen laurels, but then I wondered if it might be better to choose a deciduous option that isn't too dense. I'm leaning towards silver birch trees for their appearance and to be considerate of our neighbors, but I'm concerned about their effectiveness as a screen during winter when they lose their leaves.
I'm looking to buy clear single stems that are around 2.5m - 3m high as soon as possible. How many trees should I plant for adequate privacy? Should I plant them in a straight line or stagger them? I'd appreciate any thoughts! Thanks a bunch!
4 Answers
Totally get the struggle! It seems like silver birch could be a nice middle ground, but keep in mind that they don't provide much cover in winter. If you're really looking for a solid screen all year, you might want to consider options that could give you that leafy look even in the colder months. If you find some decent stock, planting them staggered could also enhance the screening effect!
I get where you're coming from about the silver birch! The idea of cutting down on shade for the neighbors is thoughtful. However, if you're set on having a screen at about 4m high, you might find that pleached trees won’t offer the same level of privacy in winter. You’d probably want something that maintains some foliage in the colder months. If you're okay with cost, investing in pre-grown trees sounds like a good plan since you want to sort this out quickly!
Have you thought about pleached trees? Beech or photinia could work really well if you're looking for a more slender, instant screen. Just a heads up though, if you want standard trees, those can be pricey, especially for the larger sizes. It's best to plant them depending on their species for the density you want. A mix of various tree species could also add some nice seasonal interest along with low shrubs.
Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate the insights on pleaching. I just want to balance aesthetics and what works best for the neighbors.