Keeping your garden light yet private is a challenge. To be private we need boundaries that reduce us being overlooked, yet solid walls and hedges take light away.
How to achieve a light garden?
The options available depend on the aspect of your garden. Where is north, and more importantly south and west?
We all know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. We tend to spend more time in the garden from late morning through to evening so maximise light, try to make sure your boundaries do not cast too many shadows in the late afternoon.
Parts of your garden will be in shadow at some points of the day, from hedges, fences or the house itself. Solid structures and dense trees create dark shadow, open structures and plants a more varied effect. Bamboo for example, can be used as a hedging plant (be careful to choose clumping rather than creeping varieties) that gives privacy without creating dense blocks of shadow.
A feature plant or tree can be a wonderful visual focus for a garden, do consider the shadow it will cast, where that shadow will be and the impact on plants in the shaded areas.
Some gardens can be very dark, high hedges, north facing is more challenging. Transform the space with mirrors to reflect light and planting to make the most of what is there. Contact us at Chopwell we have ideas and advice to help.
Privacy and security
We want to feel safe and away from prying eyes in our gardens. Boundary hedges and fences can help to feel private. Careful selection of plants can enhance security. Some of our favourite plants to put against fences and walls are also really helpful to security. Here are our top 3 from a very long list. Call us for a chat to find other options;
- Pyracantha is a spiky shrub, ideal for growing up walls and hedges. It is evergreen and has lovely berries, usually red or yellow depending on variety, loved by birds to nest in and as a winter food source. The spikes and spines make it difficult to prune and create a security barrier for you.
- Holly is prickly leaved with berries, available in many forms including variegated, providing a natural deterrent and aid to privacy
- Euphorbia is a low to medium growing perennial that does well in any part of the garden. The stems break easily and the sap is highly irritating to skin, another deterrent!
Whatever your garden challenge, Chopwell is here to help!
