Thanks for the comment and suggestion didn’t think of that - please do share the type of mesh or trellis and is there any climbing plants that are better?

I would consider painting your fence dark grey / black this will allow any plants in front of it to pop and will detract from the fence itself. I think climbers are a good idea but also some form of planting around the edges to soften the fencing. You could plant tall grasses and shrubs which are low maintenance

I love the idea of painting the fence and was considering it too, though my partner was of the view it might be too much and wanted to soften the space and keep the oak- I might twist his arm.
Am planning to do some planting around the edges, though wanted to get the hedge privacy situation sorted.
Thanks for the great suggestions added on my mood board

I think climbers would be the best option as already suggested as shrubs and hedges do take up a lot of space outwards. You can use wires to tie them in, or wooden or metal trellis. Wires cannot hold up a heavy plant though. What you can plant depends on aspect. Is it a sunny or shady plot or mix of both?. Painting the fence is pointless if you are going to plant in front of it. Repainting in the future would be awkward and difficult. Climbers that I have planted and seem hardy are honeysuckle, Clematis (Montana is very vigorous but beautiful), Passionflower, Jasmine, Wisteria (can get heavy)and Climbing Roses. Another climber I love is Climbing Hydrangea which tolerates shade and it attaches itself to a wall or fence with tiny suckers so won’t need trellis. Below is Clematis Montana and Climbing Hydrangea.

Thanks you so much Sonia love the suggestion and I am warming to climbers and trellis seem like best way for privacy and adding greenery.

This was what I had envisioned

This was what I had in mind

I loved your idea, Lisa! Adding plants on the borders may reduce the actual area of the grass, but they give an illusion of a larger garden. Having different sizes and types of plants is nicer than a simple hedge. Your inspiration photo is the dream!

Thanks Studio 84….It is a dream that I want to see how I achieve it whilst bearing in mind that I will not have it all. Grass wise artificial turf or real grass? I love the low maintenance of artificial grass though not sure how environmentally friendly it is

Your inspiration pic is lovely. Lollipop trees do need pruning quite often to keep that lollipop shape. It’s rarely a trees natural shape. Fake grass really isn’t good for the environment to manufacture and not good for wildlife at all. It can also get very hot in the summer, but it’s your garden, so up to you!

Great point Sonia and I am really looking at natural grass as not a fan of artificial grass- sold on this one.

I needed the lollipops seem like hard work at the same time will give me something to do

Please plant some lovely green real grass as Sonia advises. It would not take long to mow with a lightweight flymo type mower. Big bold borders of box balls and grasses would transform the space. Lollipop trees are not easy for a topiary beginner, hard to get it exactly round. How much sun do you get and what time of day? Do you know what type of soil you have as that impacts the type of plants that will grow successfully in your garden? I would first think about how much time you would wish to spend tending your garden?

Thanks Isla! Deft going with real grass. I am not sure the soil they had put on top though doesn’t look great nor is planting soil ( more like mud if you ask me) to remove it will be too much work so will need to be on top. As for sun, it’s half shaded though usually sunny all day ( of course British weather dependant)

Lisa you can get cheap soil testers from garden centres and possibly B&M if you wished. Some plants will only tolerate certain soils so worth doing. Alkaline or acid soil is the usual category but some soils are neutral. Soil does look muddy and grim at this time of year so don’t despair. Maybe wait another month then get a few bags of Peat Free Compost and dig it into the borders or even just lay a couple of inches on top of the soil. No need on grass areas. Hope you’re not too bombarded with info! 😊

The more info the better, as I have no clue what am doing and on a mission- this is exactly what I needed 😊just need to start step by step

Hi Again
Does anyone have experience with these plants and do they help with privacy or just aesthetics of it, I love that they are not space taking.
When checking they do not come cheap at all

Are these also lollipops and maintenance wise is it better?

Pleached trees help massively with privacy as well as looking very attractive. My neighbour had some planted to create privacy between her house and mine as we only had a low stone wall. I think she used hornbeams and it was about £250 per tree at least 7 years ago. That was excluding the digging and planting. Hers were large like your pic. The other side of the fence/wall also gets a lovely view of them.

I love these are they look great, when I saw the price I almost fell off my chair and would be ideal. I might ask the next door person if she is keen on doing it or trellis it will be… as they are £300 plus for a 1.5meter tall

They look like Photinia Red Robin that have been pruned into that shape and attached to some kind of small trellis. They are lovely shrubs, I have one, but they do not grow naturally that way so again will need pruning quite often to keep the shape. Mine is quite vigorous and I’m already having to cut it back to fit the space. Mine was £12 from Wilkos and it grew 3 feet in its first year! I bet the people who own the ones in your pics have a gardener to do all the pruning……..😊. Any shrubs that are trained already will be expensive due to the time spent to create it. Don’t forget you can buy small trees that will give you privacy without the huge expense. Things like apple trees and crab apple trees that grow no more than 10-20 feet, but check the label and do your research to make sure they are small. When you say £300 is that for the trellis or a tree?

I meant the already trained and full grown - agreed it is working out rather expensive so will opt trellis and might add some character as well - I see this is the most cost effective option for privacy