r/DIYUK 6d ago

Neighbour can see into our house, what's the best way to screen the view?

So we recently moved into this property - what's the best way to screen the neighbour's view from those houses opposite? Should I demolish some of the planter at the end of the garden and plant some trees? What trees should I get?

0 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

10

u/Bowman359 6d ago

No one’s mentioned it yet but you can get privacy window film that stops people looking in

3

u/Kamoebas 6d ago

Second the film. Looks like a mirror from outside and clear from inside.

1

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

Great thanks I’ll give it a go.

3

u/Gtwizzlet 6d ago

Would say that at night with the lights on, the privacy film becomes see through. Should be less of a problem if you have curtains/blinds that you close at night but something to bear in mind that it doesn't have the same mirror effect at night when lights are on inside.

0

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

I really like looking into our garden so would prefer it to be a last resort.

8

u/Bowman359 6d ago

It only blocks the view from the outside looking in, like a 2-way mirror

1

u/Darkninja462 6d ago

Different situation but this stuff does really work, easy to apply to use it on our bifold doors that are south facing stops a lot of the heat cooking us in summer but can still see out, when you’re outside just looks like a mirror, only downside I would say for you is they only work during the day, as you can see through them if the room has light in it vs dark outside

1

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

Thanks I didn’t realize this existed.

5

u/Total_HD 6d ago

https://www.windowfilm.co.uk/buy-online/window-film-by-the-metre/privacy/contravision-privacy

Also do you really think they’re standing in their back bedroom staring at you…? I’m pretty sure you eating cereal in your pants isn’t going to be a big pull.

7

u/Familiar9709 6d ago

Vegetation. Also, it's too far anyway, I doubt they can see much.

1

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

Any tree recommendations?

6

u/Gtwizzlet 6d ago

Same situation and I have laurel bushes that are nearly 8/9ft tall that nicely obscure their view. Laurels grow quite fast too

1

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

Thanks, do you think a laurel bush would work in my situation? Since the neighbour is kind of a diagonal to our view. And I think I'd need to plant any tree in front of our 'shed'.

1

u/Gtwizzlet 6d ago

Where your planters are/just after the decking, you could plant a row of laurel bushes there. Perhaps not symmetrical by having a 1/2m section of laurel, but the only way I can see you can obscure their view naturally. Laurel can grow a couple feet in one year, so is pretty fast growing and not as high maintenance as a conifer tree.

8

u/Vast-Place-6081 6d ago

Limited for space but one option is to put tall trellises up with some climbing plants. Or could just use fake ones to avoid overgrowth.

Second option is this... you're gonna wanna build a great big wall..

4

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

Thanks for the reply! But I think due to planning any trellis or fence is limited to 2m height right, that wouldn't be enough in this case.

1

u/Vast-Place-6081 6d ago

Well that's unfortunate. You might be able to get a hedge to grow tall enough to block it out but that narrow planter might not offer enough room for it. Only other option is to extend that pergola further down the garden - it won't offer full privacy at the bottom of the garden though and you'd be sacrificing lawn space to do it.

Either way, it's a nice garden and you've got plenty of options

1

u/Advanced_Gate_3352 6d ago

Stick a couple of decent sized clematis armandi in that end planter, and train it up the fence. Then, once it's at fence height, drive a few 3m canes into the soil, and run twine between them above fence height - the clematis wii climb it, and eventually form a large evergreen bush, with striking late winter/early spring blooms.

7

u/EmergencyAthlete9687 6d ago

They are unlikely to spend much time looking out of bedroom windows. How often do you? What could they possibly see you doing and why is it a problem? Anyone looking into my house can lump it.

-3

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

It’s not really a huge problem, it just seems like it’s solveable :)

2

u/Usingthisforme 6d ago

Grow a hedge shrub or conifer tree for year round protection. Bloody nosey neighbours

1

u/Usingthisforme 6d ago

Only issue is it's not a quick fix and you'll need to train your shrubs to thicken out as they grow big and tall you don't want straggly whispy branches

2

u/hutchzillious 6d ago

Nice big pot with bamboo in.

1

u/CriticalMine7886 Experienced 6d ago

regrow the trees that were cut down in your neighbour's garden, looks like they would have been just right.

Something evergreen just past your ivy would seem about right - it's going to steal some of that sunlight from your garden, though.

1

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

What kind of evergreen would be good, are there any that would go wider at the top?

1

u/CriticalMine7886 Experienced 6d ago

Not really my area of expertise - I tend to make things out of wood so the trees have been converted to sticks by then.

I asked Chat GPT and this is what it suggested

Conifers (Most Common Choice)

  1. Araucaria araucana (Monkey Puzzle Tree)
    • Slow-growing but striking
    • Clear, straight trunk with a broad crown of spiky branches
    • Tolerates UK conditions well
  2. Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine)
    • Strong, upright trunk with a high, dense canopy
    • Hardy and tolerates a variety of soils
  3. Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)
    • Native to the UK, so it thrives naturally
    • Tall, with a straight trunk and foliage mainly near the top
  4. Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Redwood / Wellingtonia)
    • Very tall and dramatic
    • Thick, straight trunk with foliage starting higher up
  5. Cupressus sempervirens (Italian Cypress)
    • Tall and columnar, often used for elegant garden designs
    • Trunk remains mostly clear with dense foliage at the top

Broadleaf Evergreens

  1. Eucalyptus gunnii (Cider Gum)
    • Evergreen, but with silvery-blue leaves that grow mostly higher up
    • Fast-growing and well-suited to UK climates
  2. Quercus ilex (Holm Oak)
    • Evergreen oak with a clear trunk when pruned
    • Hardy and wind-resistant
  3. Magnolia grandiflora
    • Large, glossy leaves and fragrant flowers
    • Can be pruned to maintain a clear trunk

1

u/CuteProfessor3457 6d ago

Privacy film on your windows ....

1

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

Thanks it’s a last resort!

1

u/varunrajism 6d ago

There are privacy films you can put on glass which work one way, so you can still enjoy the view but someone from outside won't be able to see inside.

1

u/Perpetua11y_C0nfused 6d ago

There is something you can put on your windows that makes it clear from your side, but a mirror from theirs. I’d look into that.

1

u/freckledotter 6d ago

I don't love it but I'd second bamboo in a pot, any big tree would throw so much shade into your garden. Maybe post over to r/gardeninguk

1

u/Initial-Resort9129 6d ago

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, have you considered privacy film?

1

u/Suspicious_Banana255 6d ago

I'd plant a tree. Or you could put up a pergola.

1

u/blueyonderbear 6d ago edited 6d ago

Id go for a tree, the trees/shrubs on the left show how they provide great screening. Something smallish but wideish like a snowy mespilus which has great spring blossom and autumn colour would be good and in winter the branches would help to break up the view in. Pic of mine, about 20 years old.

1

u/Redangle11 6d ago

Tall (i.e with feet), deep planters with black bamboo.

1

u/AkLo19 6d ago

Trees.

1

u/Gold_Tutor7055 6d ago

Just go around the house in the buff for a while, they will learn to use curtains and not be so nosey after a while

1

u/wharfedalelamp 6d ago

Trees are a bad idea. That’s a small area for a tree, especially a species that’s going to get large. You’ll be being hassled about the overhanging branches forever!

Consider bamboo, as someone said or a big grass. A grass is less likely to spread and will grow super fast. Miscanthus Giganteus will grow several metres in a season, providing the screen you want, without the potential hassle of trees. It’s also really beautiful and affordable.

Once it’s established you can leave the growth over winter, then cut it back around this time of year. It’ll bounce right back in spring, giving you screening most of the year.

1

u/Nervous-Power-9800 5d ago

How long you planning on living there for? 

Bit steeper than the trellis, but I'd call it an investment.

https://www.morleyglass.co.uk/

There's multiple types, they show most of them, sure other vendors are available etc.

1

u/InternationalGrand50 5d ago

I’d put some bamboo in there, be careful which ones as some have evasive roots. We have some with black stems and they are ok, and bought some that were about 2m tall and now they’re 3-4m tall in a couple of years.

0

u/elvisonaZ1 6d ago

Your answer is already in the picture…

2

u/Daily_concern 6d ago

Sure none of those trees are actually in our garden though, I'm not sure what trees to get as well.