A gardening expert shared the best plants to keep your garden private. (Image: Getty)
in the garden is a top priority for many British homeowners, with more than half considering their neighbours to be nosy.
A recent survey revealed that 60 percent of Brits admit to keeping an eye on their neighbours’ activities.
Fortunately, have shared affordable solutions to help keep curious eyes at bay with the right privacy hedging.
A landscape gardener known as recently posted a hack that’s both simple and budget-friendly for screening off private areas.
According to the TikToker, hedges like Ficus nitida and Podocarpus make effective barriers.
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Depending on the plant height, costs can range from £5 to £50 per plant, with taller varieties providing greater coverage.
“Tall hedges like these are great for blocking out nosy neighbours, no matter what plant suits your area best,” explained @foxterradesign.
Earlier this year, Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries, provided further guidance, recommending privacy hedges that not only offer seclusion but also help filter out wind, noise, and pollution.
Morris noted that there are over 100 hedge varieties, making it challenging for gardeners to choose the right species.
Morris named the Common or Cherry Laurel as the ideal privacy hedge due to its evergreen nature and rapid growth.
With its large, glossy leaves, the Cherry Laurel offers year-round coverage while being easy to grow in a wide range of soil types.
This makes it a favourite among gardeners looking for an effective privacy solution that also fits different budgets.
“Cherry Laurel is not only easy to care for but also relatively resistant to pests and diseases,” Morris added. “It’s one of the most practical options out there.”
For gardens overlooked by neighbours’ upper windows, Morris suggests pleached trees, often described as a “hedge on stilts.”
These trees create an elevated screen and come in various heights up to 3.5 metres, with popular choices including Photinia, Portuguese Laurel, Evergreen Oak, and Holly.
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Tall hedges are great for blocking out nosy neighbours. (Image: Getty)
Alternatives to Cherry Laurel
If the Cherry Laurel isn’t quite what you’re looking for, there are plenty of other effective privacy hedging options:
1. Portuguese Laurel:
Similar to Cherry Laurel but with smaller leaves and reddish young stems. This hedge thrives particularly well in chalky soil, where Cherry Laurel may struggle.
2. Osmanthus x burkwoodii:
This charming evergreen hedge has small leaves and fragrant white flowers that blossom in spring, creating a neatly clipped look suitable for both topiary and hedging.
3. Thuja plicata Atrovirens (Western Red Cedar):
A great alternative to the popular Leylandii, the Western Red Cedar grows more slowly, making it easier to maintain. Its foliage even produces a delightful pineapple scent when bruised, and unlike Leylandii, it can regenerate from old wood, allowing for more aggressive pruning.
4. Photinia:
Known for its oval-shaped red foliage when young, Photinia produces striking white flowers in early summer. The ‘Red Robin’ variety is well-known, but other types like ‘Camilvy’, ‘Carre Rouge’, and ‘Dynamo Red’ also make excellent choices for privacy hedges.
5. Griselinia littoralis:
A fast-growing, upright evergreen, Griselinia makes a highly effective privacy hedge, particularly suited to coastal gardens since it is resistant to the salty winds of winter.