Solid 15 inch strips of horizontal fencing ?

Hi TT,
If you have some trellis made up fan shaped to go 15 inches above those panels you can plant at the bottom in a half barrel a clematis etc. which will be independant from the fence, having the bottom of the trellis pushed into the half barrel. Three half barrels and three pieces of trellis and three Clematis will solve the problem.
I am sure you will get lots of good ideas on this one.

Thanks Doctorbob ~
Hadn't thought of fan-shaped trellis. That could work...
As you say, hopefully there will be a variety of ideas...
Something a bit more 'instantly solid' might be preferable...

think thats good idea doctor... fan trellis is nice i have one on raised bed, sounds good to me.. good luck terra,, could shoot the neighbours, lol

Hi Sanbaz ~
All ideas welcome. Lol.

~hi TT
I take it you are going to have to put posts or whatever on your side to hold anything you want to give you the height you need.~what is the total length ~I take it is a lot? I was wondering about nailing trellis in the shape of arches to either side of posts on your side. but not practicable if there would be tons of posts to buy
although it could look nice....
My sister used very stiff fine gauge plastic covered metal green netting nailed to a famework but the problem is you are having to double what has been done because it is not your fence.Bum!
Will keep thinking!

Thanks, Arlene.

I've now added a photo.
6ft ancient fencing has been replaced with new 5ft fencing with concrete posts.

I now have no privacy because the neighbours are tall.

The area of main concern is a line of three panels, as above.

I would not be allowed to fix anything to the posts or fencing.

Help ! :o(

I am sorry you having to worry about this TT
~unfortunately the answer would be either an 8 foot beech.holly or other thick hedge but that's expensive and not immediate and you are going to lose half your border~the possibly least expensive plan would be to erect three/four posts set in concrete on your side with bars across top and bottom and cut and nail planks to whatever height you want~do you know a handyman who could do it?

Hi Arlene ~
Thanks for coming back on this...
I think the posts would have to be not where the concrete posts are, because of the large areas of cement holding them in place. Could use metposts mid-way between concrete posts. Not very attractive.

I could buy three 6ft panels and secretly slot them in overnight. Lol...

once you have them in place you train climbers up~`honeysuckle etc fast growers! on your side you can do what you like!Metal posts probably best but don't worry about when to do it~try 7 am like our neighbour does!

Lol. Thanks, Arlene :o)

Hi Terratoonie - the fence would look a darn side better with a lick of paint on it! My garden has fence on two sides, painted British Racing Green and conifers planted in front. Conifers are rarely the first choice but you can get 6 footers for £20 a pop and at least you know they will grow relatively quickly. Here's an (expensive) alternative - create a timber enclosed raised flower bed alongside the fence, no less than 2' deep and about the same high - and THEN plant 6' conifers! If my maths is correct, you would then exceed the nasty 5' fence by almost 3' (allowing a bit for planting depth). The roots will grow down if they can't grow out. That's the best I can do - hope it's food for thought x

Thanks, Tingalay ~
all suggestions welcome !

I like your parrot avatar photo.
Welcome to GoY. Enjoy :o)

Oh dear TT. My neighbour keeps on and on every year about reducing the height of our 7ft hedge to 5ft....over my dead body! lol Like you, I like my privacy. My thoughts after reading all the other comments: Firstly, would your neighbours object to a nice well-made trellis fixed to the top of their fence? I think if it were me, I'd pick an oportune moment and show them a nice glossy picture of some superior trellis work in a garden centre catalogue and drop into the conversation something like 'If this isn't possible, then maybe I could plant a Lleylandii hedge instead?" Don't get confrontational, but make it clear that you'll do something to recify the situation, whether it's with or without their cooporation. There is some really nice trellis sections you can buy ready made - some with a wavey top that I like - something like that could really enhance the fence from both sides, so they might be more open to it. A lick of paint, lets say a nice neutral grey-green against which to show off your plants and the addition of some nice climbers....????

Thanks, Sid.
Some good points you've made there... :o)

Hi TT.....How about a series of pergolas, arches, arbours..depending how wide your garden is, I know it may be expensive but home-made ones with the height at least 6ft 6ins would with climbers cover and clothe the area in about a year. They could be made shallow probably about 1ft in depth but you would be able to top them with cross beams for your plants.
All evergreen climbers and the odd conifer like sky rocket would screen it but also make it interesting. Bamboo also is a quick grower and the sound of the rustling is really therapeutic, If you would like any Golden Hop which would exceed 6ft in a season let me know...I have plenty it's not evergreen but leaves a mass of tangled stems which would still screen the area in Winter.

This is a cheeky one TT, ask your neighbours to lift the fence panels up a foot and put gravel boards
along the bottom. I have done this more than once, it's an easy job and doesn't require any more concrete.

Pyracanthia is a fast grower, with thorns on it. You could let it grow so that it exceeds the height of the fence. It won't flop over, coz it's evergreen and has stiff branches. The "firethorn" variety has white flowers in summer and red berries in winter. Then you could grow whatever you wanted in front of it, as it's quite slim.

You could buy some trellis' and squeeze them to make them slimmer and higher than the fence too. I've just bought some from homebase for about £10 each. The Pyracanthia about £5.

Good luck!

how about making trellis with 8' legs either side, then just knock into the ground 3' and you have a trellis that is 5' above ground to whatever hieght the trellis is , fix to side of fence with a few screws at 45 degrees to go into the fence uprights. hope this helps........steve

Thanks for all your suggestions. Brought tears to my eyes that so many of you care and are trying to help. One of the reasons I chose my house was the privacy factor of the gardens...... gone for the moment....

Janey ~ your structural ideas are good and I'll give those some serious thought. Thank you. Not a lot of space where this fencing is located, such as one of the new low panels, facing the path along the side of my house..

DrBob ~ yes, cheeky but clever... there are already concrete gravel boards ~ not very deep ones ~ so it would be a case of gravel boards on top of gravel boards. I wonder how much they cost...

Craftnutter ~ the squeezed trellis suggestion could also be incorporated. I'll think more on that. Thank you.

Steve ~ the 8 ft legs with something fixed between could be the cheapest and quickest way.. so that does help...

Once again, thanks to everyone. The plant suggestions are good for longer term. Anybody reading this for the first time, please add further ideas you may have. I really appreciate your input. :o)

The only thing I can think of is if you put posts your side and have trellises attached to them above the hight of the fences.. you could then have things growing on the trellises.

I don't have tall fances between me and my neighbours on either side. None of us mind though. We're all friendly. lol.

Thanks, Hywel.
My current plan, is rather like your suggestion, with posts, but horizontal featherboard above the fence height, and then I can hide it all with climbers as the months go by....
... I wonder if it will work....

I just bought gravel boards ( eBay) for £6.49 each. 12" deep 6' long. I phoned them (Telford),and did a deal cheaper than eBay . Local places wanted around £8 each !.

Well done, Justvera ~
good bargain ! :o)

That's got to be the best & cheapest way out of the problem. If you get some of the 12" gravel boards from eBay and put on top of the present gravel boards lifting the panels up. You will have a gap between each panel because the posts aren't high enough but this can be rectified with a small ornamental cap on top of the existing concrete post. Giving you a cost of about £7 per panel.
That is a good bargain Justvera, as I often pay as much as £12. per gravel board.

Thanks, Doctorbob.
Not sure my neighbours will agree to raising the fences, so I might have to go with my featherboard plan above, but your gravelboard idea is what I would prefer...

Some sort of boards anyway TT. You can't see through them and things will grow to hide them.

Good thinking, Hywel :o)

Yes TT think Doctorbobs advice the cheapest way to rectify this as long as you can get neighbours consent .

Certainly no expert on council matters but if height of fence been established for some years are they able to reduce it impinging on your privacy - without considering your needs ?

So failing this Hywels option is good as spares expense of panels for you but extends height - sadly it will mean posts to cover those concrete ones but by standing proud wires could be trained between them allowing a fast climber - Clematis montana ? to scamble up to trellis.

Often local sawmills supply posts and trellis at more competitive prices and assuming you ll need someone to install should be able to recommend someone ..never ceases to amaze me that when sharing a boundary a neighbour goes ahead without acknowleding how it will affect the person on the other side ..good luck.

Thanks, BB, for making the time to look at this.
You must have loads to catch up on after BT deprived you of GoY for so many days..... Is your internet connection all okay now ?

Dr. Bob's answer of the extra gravel boards would be ideal, but neighbours would not agree..

I've bought some featherboard strips from Wickes ~
4 inches x almost 8 feet long, and I am hoping to put these horizontally near the top of the 5ft fencing, in fours, slightly overlapped, to create a solid new strip about 13 inches in depth. These will be fixed to uprights, so I will take your advice, thank you, and look around for the cheapest place to get those.

I tackle a certain amount of hard-landscaping garden tasks myself, provided there's no really heavy lifting, so with any luck, and a spirit level, and a friend, I should be able to put these in. If I decide to use metposts, that will be pricey, but might be better than quick-setting concrete, in case I wish to alter it some time in the future. Do you agree on that, please ?

I already have climbing Hydrangea Petiolaris and Clematis Francis Rivis on a trellis, with upright posts, in front of part of the new fence, which will provide a start to the upright posts required. I will need to plant more climbers which are okay to be on the north side of a fence, and preferably evergreen. Ideas on these from BB and others very welcome please.
Thank you.

With the lower fencing, the tall neighbours can look, not only into all my back garden, and side entrance, but straight into my kitchen and also into the window of the studio where I have my laptop. Privacy all gone, so there are very many reasons why I wish to have the 6ft height restored.

Thanks again to everyone who has given ideas here.

Connection still a bit temperamental so trying to get through as much as possible and its raining too , so if tomorrow better would be nice to look at my own garden.

So sounds like no co - operation from neighbours then?

Metposts are pricey and of course depends on how much concrete they used to put in those posts - if over generous then may be difficult to drive in metposts close enough .. suggest you have a look prior to purchase.

Of course another option could be to use masonry anchors direct through posts into concrete posts to secure your posts - cant see neighbours being able to object to you using posts facing your property.Obviously this requires some heavy duty drilling but bolts are hammered in to secure.The problem with this method is if attached and then they decide to change their posts ...so perhaps free standing after all !

As for north facing climbers well you already have a Garrya , also Jasmine , some of the new evergreen honeysuckles may be suitable pyracantha and quince but you may not like the thorns . Of course Ivys would be effective and combine while others established .

Hello TT, I havent got any suggestions but I do sympathise. I think your posts with horizontal boards will work and the climbers will soon grow. The suggestions above are so good but if the neighbours are funny, I would do something independantly, i.e. not using their fence/posts. Good luck, sorry you've had to incur unnecessary costs :-(

Hi again BB and Dawn ~
Thanks for your further suggestions and advice.... and your support. It's surprising how an episode such as this can make a person feel quite unwell, and just knowing that you sympathise is a great help, so thank you to everyone on this thread. :o)

You are not alone TT, I know exactly how you feel .... and having your privacy invaded is distressing. It may be worth investing in a mature shrub or two that you can strategically place to protect your most vulnerable areas, like the kitchen window and side path.

Thanks, Dawn.
Not really the space to plant shrubs in those areas, but I'll certainly be planting as many interesting evergreen climbers as I can squeeze in !

TT, a Ceonothus would soon clamber up there with it's shiney evergreen leaves and clouds of deep blue flowers spring/summer. My Golden Hop is now nearly 5ft high...only been going 4 weeks.....such a great colour and it would tide you over till your more permanent climbers have grown. If you were worried about it sending runners out, a couple in pots sunk in the ground would work ...........and that colour with the blue Ceonothus.......sun, and sky!!! (Your neighbours would thank you for it Lol!)

If you want an almost instant climber - there is always Russian Vine - only joking - OK in the right place but too invasive I would imagine.

It can be a thug Dawn..........but a super cover-up with those frothy white flowers...and all that twine for birds nests in the spring......:o)

Hi Janey ~
I already have several ceanothus. It is a good suggestion, but I would need to choose one which has a more tall narrow habit and pale flowers... I've heard you can get white ceanothus ?

Do you have Golden Hop pics. on your photos ?

Hi Dawn. Keep the suggestions coming. Thank you :o)
I reckon Russian Vine would be just too invasive. I'd like fast growing .... but can't cope with mile a minute... LOL.

I'll have a look TT....if not I'll take one...........

Thanks, Janey. :o)

Posted one TT.....take a look....:o)

I have a golden hop too Janey. I love them and of course you get the garland of hops later in the Summer. Like Janey says TT, you still have the entwined bare stems in the winter for cover. Was also thinking TT about the option of those tall, column, narrow conifers, they may be good for you and wouldnt take up too much space :)

Didn't someone say something about a big pile of sprouts? x-)

Oh, Sid........you're in the wrong blog!! Well that steaming away down the garden would certainly ensure the neighbours stayed away!!.......:o) A few of the Hops in a mug of boiling water will make sure they're snoring away behind the sprout heap...........you could even have an outside privy in front of the fence TT......any plans for future BBQs will then be well and truly scuppered.........Lol

Out of curiosity, what are the "laws" in UK regarding fences? I know responsibility only lies with one fence but out of amicable decency, before going ahead, I would have thought your neighbours should have at least advised you on what kind of fence they were going to replace the old one with. . . .

Anyway TT, good luck with your eventual choice of solution.

Agree with Terry,
I don't know about the law but I would have thought the neighbours couldn't just lower the fence. TT have a word with Andrearichter on the I.0.W she is up on these things.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to everyone....

Hi Sid ~ I considered the "pile of sprouts" style of fencing, but I reckoned Truffle the puppy would eat the sprouts faster than I could build them up. Lol.

Thanks to everyone for your input. Weather permitting, I'm currently constructing fencing strips made of feather board, which I'll fix to new posts on my own property. One section of this has to be fed behind my trellis which has a clematis in bloom, so I'm going carefully there, and I've had to draw a design on paper first, to be able to attach the fixing strips in all the right places....

I'm taking photos and hope to make a blog of the whole episode. I'll put a comment on this thread if I make a blog.

Sorry I've got behind with everything on GoY, but this is a stressful, exhausting task. Without higher fencing the neighbour can see across all my gardens, and also right into the centre of my house, and even half way up the stairs !

Wondered where you had gone ! Hope this job is not too demanding and that you can achieve the result you need Quite a lot of privacy lost from what you describe !

Thanks, BB. I have worked too hard on this, but hoping it will all be worth it in the end.

Gone to bed exhausted at 8.30 pm last two nights. Maybe I'll "stay up late" tonight and not go to bed till 9 pm. Lol.

Today I've put a blog on GoY about my fencing, with more photos. Thanks again to everyone. :o)