Privacy is one of the most-requested improvements we make to Hampshire and Dorset gardens. Whether a garden is overlooked by neighbouring properties, a busy road or a footpath, there are several effective approaches — from fencing and trellis to screening plants and pergola structures — each with different implications for cost, permanence and planning.
Fencing Solutions
A new fence is often the quickest and most cost-effective solution. Close-board fencing provides immediate, solid privacy. Adding trellis above an existing fence can raise the screening height without requiring planning permission (if kept within standard height limits).
- Close-board fence panels — solid, immediate, 1.8m standard height
- Trellis extensions — add 30–60cm above existing fence with climbing plants
- Horizontal slatted fencing — contemporary look, partial privacy
- Bamboo screening — fast solution but deteriorates over 5–7 years
- Woven willow hurdles — natural look, limited lifespan
Planting for Privacy
A hedge or row of screening shrubs provides living privacy that improves year on year. Bamboo (kept in root barriers), evergreen pittosporum, photinia and portuguese laurel all grow quickly and create dense privacy screens. Pleached trees are an elegant contemporary solution for raised privacy.
Overhead Privacy Structures
A pergola or sail shade creates privacy from upstairs windows in neighbouring properties — a problem that fences and hedges cannot solve. Combined with climbing plants, a well-designed pergola creates a sheltered, private outdoor room.
A&T Landscapes installs fencing, trellis and screening plants to create private gardens across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. Call 07735 916029 for a free quote.