United Kingdom 
I need some advice!
My neighbours have a gastly brick wall on the border of our properties. They are in no position to take it down and to be honest it looks like more work that what it's worth.
However, they have a higher ground level than me and the 2m height restriction of fences and walls simply does not give us any privicy so going through the expensive costs would only cover up the wall and not give us privacy.
My idea was to plant conifers to cover the wall and give us sufficent privacy. This would be a height of 6ft on their side. It wouldn't block light and if they were to complain it was just a shears job rather than altering fencing or wall.
However, I have been warned that conifers grow rapidly which isn't a problem for me but it's the roots I am very concerned about. The trees would be planted in a bed about a foot away from my house and a foot from their wall. Do the roots still grow even if the tree is watered and remains about 5ft?
What would you advise? Alternative trees that have smaller routes? The distance I wish to cover is 4.5m
Any help would be very much appreciated
28 Mar, 2012
Answers
Even climbing roses might be suitable - there are some that grow well, even in reduced light. Not evergreen, but very pretty.
28 Mar, 2012
Cant your get permission from them to put some trellis on it and grow climbing plants along it. I have my garage in part of my back garden and it was like looking at a prison wall, I fenced it all to match my surrounding fence and covered it with trellis and I must say it looks lovely with clematis and other climbers rambling along it and on the other side I have a wisteria. You would not know it was there now because I am training a montanna to cover the top of the garage roof. I hope you manage to find something suitable.
28 Mar, 2012
Conifer roots vary so much. Low and slow growing shrub/creeping conifers are no trouble at all. Anything like a leylandii or spruce will be okay for a while, but as you keep the top down so the trunk and root will widen and spread. 5m from any building/paving etc is what I understand is the minimum requirement for insurance purposes. Call your building's insurance company for more information. Yew may be an alternative they will accept, though it is slow to grow, unless you can afford to plant larger trees. Again check with your building's insurance - they are usually very helpful on the subject, if given the chance to comment before planting rather than dealing with the aftermath of subsidence and cracks!!
28 Mar, 2012
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