Creating privacy in an overlooked garden can transform your outdoor space into a peaceful retreat where you can truly relax—no fear of prying eyes!
Whether your garden is overlooked by neighbouring homes, has an open boundary or lacks sufficient screening, there are many solutions to reclaim your own little slice of sanctuary. Having created many private gardens for clients, we’re well-placed to provide practical and stylish ways to enhance privacy in your garden.
1. Plants
Plants are an effective way to create privacy. In addition to enhancing seclusion, using plants to create a privacy barrier can also add to your garden’s beauty and texture.
The best place to start is evergreen hedges. Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel) is an excellent choice, thanks to its small evergreen leaves and reddish stems, which add colour and visual interest. Other great options are Taxus baccata (yew) and Thuja occidentalis 'Brabant' (white cedar), both of which form lovely, neat hedges once established and clipped.
For an instant hedge solution, Elaeagnus ebbingei espalier is worth considering—essentially, a frame-grown hedge. Many evergreen frame-grown plants are available, some reaching up to 2 metres in height. For example, Trachelospermum jasminoides offers not only screening but also sweetly scented flowers, while frame-grown ivy is another reliable choice.
If your garden is overlooked from higher up, pleached trees might be the answer. These are basically "hedges on stems," with a two-metre clear stem supporting a frame typically 1 metre high by 2 metres wide. They’re available in both deciduous and evergreen forms, ranging from Carpinus betulus (hornbeam) to varieties of Ilex (holly).
A perfect example is this Rochdale garden of a new-build house, which, due to its proximity to the adjacent houses, was overlooked. To address this, we used pleached hornbeams to provide screening and give the garden a sense of intimacy.
Another benefit to using these hedges is that they grow pretty quickly and can be shaped to suit your garden’s dimensions. But, if you need that extra height, you could opt for trees like hornbeam or silver birch, as their tall and slender forms are perfect for blocking views from neighbouring upstairs windows. For example, in this Wilmslow garden, we used a combination of hedging, clump forming bamboo, trees and pleached trees to enhance privacy and add interest to the gardens boundaries.
Remember, careful planning is key—and we’re not just talking about blocking views. Your plants need space to grow and thrive, as well as regular pruning to maintain their effectiveness as privacy screens and to create an inviting garden at the same time.
2. Layered Landscaping
Layering your plants is a creative way to add privacy and depth to your garden.
By creating levels, you can obscure views and make the space feel more dynamic and intimate. Raised beds along the boundaries of your garden are a simple yet effective way to introduce height. Plant them with tall shrubs or ornamental grasses to form a natural screen that shields your garden from view.
If you have a sloped garden like this Marple Bridge project, terracing is another option. By dividing your garden into different levels, you can create private zones. You can use retaining walls or gabion steps to define these levels and add some architectural interest. Just make sure you pay attention to drainage issues when working with raised or sunken areas, to prevent water pooling and maintain the health of your plants.
Pro tip: To make layered landscaping a success, choose hardscaping materials that complement your garden’s style, which could be natural stone, timber or brick.
3. Fencing
Looking for a quick fix? Fencing is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to establish privacy in an overlooked garden.
Solid wood fences, like the ones in this family garden in Bramhall, are especially effective at offering instant coverage to shield your garden from onlookers. Cedar and pressure-treated timber are excellent choices, offering both durability and a natural aesthetic that seamlessly blends into the outdoors. For a modern look, slatted wood fences provide privacy whilst allowing light to filter through, striking the perfect balance between seclusion and openness.
Finally, if you want to add a touch of individualistic appeal, decorative panels can elevate your fencing and turn your fence into a feature piece, whilst keeping its practical purpose.
Pro tip: Pair fencing with shrubs or tall grasses at the base to soften the transition from your garden to the hardscape.
4. Pergolas
Pergolas are versatile structures that deliver on both functionality and aesthetic appeal—ideal for creating semi-enclosed spaces in your garden.
A pergola over a patio or seating area provides overhead coverage that feels intimate without being completely closed off. For example, see this private garden in Wilmslow. To enhance privacy and add texture, train climbing plants like wisteria and clematis to grow over the structure. Over time, they’ll form a lush canopy that shields you from above and looks beautiful!
If you don’t have time to wait for nature to work its magic, you can install lattice screens or slatted wood panels along the sides of the structure, which will double as support for climbing plants.
With some thoughtful planning, a pergola can even become the centrepiece of your garden—a functional, stylish one where you can relax and entertain in both comfort and privacy.
5 . Other Garden Structures
Standalone garden structures, such as gazebos, summerhouses or pods, provide a more permanent solution for creating private spaces.
Like pergolas, these can be centrepieces of your garden, offering a sheltered retreat for relaxation and entertaining guests. To make the space even cosier, you can furnish it with comfortable seating, cushions and throws.
Summerhouses are another excellent option, because they double as a garden retreat and a practical storage space. In this tropical-style garden in Chorlton, we simply repainted over the dull green with a matte black finish to add depth and contrast to the evergreen foliage of the planting. So, these are features you may already have in your garden, but just need a refresh to complement the new look.
Pro tip: For a more eco-friendly approach, green roofs on garden structures—as seen in this Derbyshire hillside garden—can help them blend into the natural surroundings and provide additional insulation.
Ready to Transform Your Garden into a Hidden Retreat?
Creating privacy in an overlooked garden doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or space. By incorporating strategic planting, stylish fencing or versatile garden structures, you can transform your garden into a hidden retreat.
Want to turn your garden from overlooked to oasis? Get in touch today and let’s start planning, and soon you’ll have a peaceful haven to enjoy for years to come!
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