Planning for privacy
There are many reasons people want to create privacy in their gardens, and as our urban environments continue to densify it's even more important to consider how we do this through landscape design.
Do you want to create a hidden retreat? or screen yourself from nosey neighbours? hide an unsightly view? divide up a garden? or create shelter from the wind? No matter what, we all want to let light into our houses and enjoy our outdoor spaces, but we don’t want to feel like we’re in a fishbowl or hemmed in. Well-designed privacy screening can help with this, mutually benefit you and your neighbours, and also improve the value of your property.
There are some key ways you can create privacy: fencing; hedges; planting and screens.
Fencing Solutions
Roadside Fencing & Walls
Fences and walls are often the first option people think of when they want to create privacy and security. They’re low maintenance, quickly block a line of sight, and are relatively quick to erect. with a bit of design thought, can help you achieve security while setting the tone to your home & improve your street appeal in one go.
Key Considerations Before Adding Fencing
When it comes to fencing, it’s a common preference to keep it high. We encourage our clients to consider visibility when driving out of their driveway. Often a lower fence set back from the footpath with a well-placed garden on the street front can improve visibility of pedestrians and traffic while softening the facade & screen for privacy.
We recommend (and often council requires) clients give a little back to the street to create a welcoming, safe and defined entrance. Security experts will often recommend a lockable gate and ideally visibility is to be maintained so passers-by can view unusual activity behind the walls.
Picket Fencing
The classic picket fence but with an elegant modern take.
Block, Brick and Stone Walls
Block, brick and stone walls are a premium execution and are ideal in deflecting road noise. They don't however need to be a solid barricade, straight or one material. Breaking up a stone wall with planting, timber or powder coated aluminium slates, is an elegant solution as it adds texture to create visual interest.
Staggering Walls
Staggering walls allows light & air to flow and provides space for planting to soften the solid structures. If you have the luxury of space, consider layers of materials and planting.
Hedges
Hedging can be a softer approach to creating privacy as well as assisting with soil erosion, wind speed, reducing noise and can also improve air quality. Of course it will take longer for a hedge to grow then it would to put a fence up but there are many options and also many plants that are quick growing.
Key Considerations Before Adding a Hedge
One thing to consider when planting a hedge is if you want it to be thick or a bit airier and how much time and budget you have available for upkeeping.
If you choose a fast growing hedge it will generally mean more seasonal maintenance, if a once a season arborist visit or family “hedge day” activity is not you or your families idea of fun then we would suggest you avoid hedging like Eugenia (Lily Pilly). It does an excellent job of providing fast growing screening and has lovely red new growth but does require more costly upkeeping. Instead, Pleached hedges are a great alternative or opt for hardy hedging that requires less maintenance.
Pleached Hedges
A pleached hedge means the lower trunk of the tree is bare, and the hedge is higher up. This allows you to have a high hedge and underplant it.
Hardy Hedges
Griselinia Lucida are an excellent hardy option and creates a dense easy care hedge.
Corokia ‘Geenty’s Green’ provides a lovely olive green foliage and looks great as a trimmed hedge.
Alectryon excelsus (Titoki) is a very hardy beautiful lime foliage. It prunes well and can also be pleached.
Pittosporum tenuifolium lemon wood is an inexpensive quick growing option and is great for a windbreak
For less pruning we are loving the hardy and lush green foliage of the Podocarpus Henkelii - Henkel's Yellowwood
Espalier Trees
For a more airy option, Espalier trees. These are popular in Europe and making a comeback in smaller urban gardens. Espalier means to train the branches to grow along a wall or lattice. This can be done to fruit trees, hedges and more and allows you to create a thin tree or plant that can be used to create screening or separate areas.
Planting
If you have more space, layers of planting are a beautiful and beneficial way to create privacy. Consider mixing layers of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and perennials. Layering these plants and grouping them in odd numbers will create a more natural look. It also creates texture, depth, colour and an outlook that is constantly changing.
For smaller gardens, edging your garden with a planter box or pots and planting a range of tall plants and lower shrubs will help to create a soft border and protection from neighbours.
Screens
Screening is a great way to add shelter, although it is less likely to be a thick screen it can be a beautiful point of interest.
Pre made screens are a cheaper and quick solutions that can be bought from your local gardening store like Bunnings or Mitre 10.
Customised screens using laser cut metal, can be artistic, architectural, and even have plants weaved into them.
Freestanding walls like wooden slatted screens, are a beautiful way to create a barrier while also allowing air to flow through. These create a feeling of privacy, without completely closing off the area you’re protecting. They can also be adjusted in length and height to ensure they screen exactly what you want to hide.
Pergolas are also a way to create privacy, and with an awning or sailcloth fixed over the top can make the space even more private and protected.
Outdoor mirrors can be used to create depth in a garden and can help highlight key plants by adding light to a shady corner. (Just be careful not to place them too high so that a bird doesn’t fly into them!)
When considering what privacy solution will work best for you and your garden, there are a few things to consider like the size of your garden, what you’re wanting privacy, where is the sun/wind predominantly from and do you want to allow it in or block it, and finally what is the style of the rest of the garden.
The team of experts at Anna Pepper Design can help you address all of these questions and can find just the right options to refresh your property for your needs and budget.
