Easy solution

Sadly I’m not sure we’d be able to get mature trees or very large pots into the garden- the house is built on a hill so the front is already one storey above the road with ten steps up to the front, and there’s a very narrow alleyway down the side of the house.

Sadly in our case its more than just 'to an extent', we can see everything they do. Its too much. I like my privacy.

It’s unlikely that you’re going to be able to create privacy in the whole of your garden but you can plan to create areas of privacy. I would start with considering building a pergola or other garden structure / building which could be covered with climbing plants. Similarly a summer house Would provide some height & a private place to sit if positioned correctly. Does the sewer run the entire length of the garden or are there areas where you could add trees? The evergreen Sonia has suggested in a good idea for year round cover. Bamboo in pots would also work to create a screen. Can you add trellis to the top of the fencing to extend the height & grow climbing plants through? I appreciate this could be quite costly but could be done over time.

I agree with Tamp75, think about the overall design that will have areas of privacy, a secret garden at the end with screening, a veggie patch with strategically placed shed etc. Of course increase the height of the fence where you can/need.

Hey Rachel, 

What a tough one! How you would feel about sharing some photos? Especially from the main view points you are concerned with.

I'll also agree with tamp75, segmenting smaller, more private areas will make this far less daunting. 

The first thing that comes to my mind is something hanging. With your patio, are there any overhead beams? If you suspend an artwork, hanging pots or a climbing plant from this at the end of the patio, it could be the perfect position to block downward viewpoint, giving you this section of privacy. Hopefully you can see the idea in the attached photo.

Could this sort of thing work for you?

A Wurster Revival · Еще

The most effective way to feel more private in your own garden is to screen the areas that you regularly use to sit out in. The closer the screen to where you sit, the more effective it will be - that's why screening all around the boundary doesn't usually solve the problem. That's because a fence/hedge/trellis that is closer seems bigger.

Other suggestions to use trellis are a great idea, someone suggested pergola, these are also a great idea as it can offer some cover from overlooking upstairs windows. Some can be fitted with a shade sail or rotating slats so you can block views from above.

If you put up a pergola and clad the side of it (next to your neighbour) with trellis or slatted fencing and grow plants up it you can create an effective screen.

You can buy ready grown hedging at about 1.8m high if you wanted to create privacy in certain areas. Pleached hedges (tall trunks, hege on top) can also be very effective.

Most of my projects over the years have been done in town gardens and privacy always comes up in the design brief.

Anything tall - small tree, large shrub, feature such as pergola, summer house, archway, arbour placed strategically can help screen views of your neighbour's garden too.