‘It eliminates the neighbours’ landscape designer reveals the best way to cope with ‘nosy’ people next door
FOR many of us, a privacy fence in the garden isn’t just nice to have – but it’s a must-have.
A survey by the Home Improvement Research Institute found that nearly 60 per cent of homeowners put up fences mainly for privacy.
But that’s not all. A good privacy fence also boosts security, cuts down on noise, and can even make your garden look prettier.
And you don’t have to fork out on a wooden fence either.
One landscape designer, who is known as @foxterradesign on TikTok, has revealed a super savvy way of doing your own privacy fence to help cope with your nosy neighbours.
The design consultant took to his social media page to share a video of his creation and it has since been shared over 695 times.
He captioned it: “What’s your favourite way to create privacy in your back garden.”
Talking to the camera, whilst he is standing outside, the designer says: “Do you have nosy neighbours and want to enjoy your yard in privacy?
“There’s a simple way to achieve full privacy: a tall hedge plant.”
From a charming avenue of Tilia cordata to the delightful wild cherry and beyond, these hedges are chosen for their ability to grow over three metres tall.
The cost of tall hedge plants can vary significantly based on factors such as the type of plant, size, and supplier.
For smaller Hedge Plants (up to 1 metre tall), they can vary between £5 to £20 per plant, for medium Hedge Plants (1 to 2 metres tall), they can vary between £20 to £50 per plant, and for tall Hedge Plants (over 2 metres tall), they can cost between £50 to £150 or more per plant.
It’s always a good idea to check with local nurseries or garden centres for the most accurate pricing and availability.
Online garden retailers can also provide a range of options and sometimes offer delivery services, which might be convenient for larger purchases.
The Foxterra Design account then shows off the tall hedge plant that is behind him, and continues to say: “Whether it’s Ficus nitida, Podocarpus, or any other plant that suits your area, tall hedges like these can effectively block out the neighbours.”
We previously revealed how a DIY fan revealed their version of a privacy fence, after she felt that her garden was being overlooked by nosy neighbours.
The woman, known on TikTok as @ahomefitforkings, shared her frustration about loving her garden but hating being overlooked from the end of it.
In a video posted on her account, she showed the direct view from her kitchen window, which looked straight into the house opposite and their back window.
How to create privacy in your garden
CREATING privacy in your garden can be achieved in a number of ways depending on your budget, and the size of your space. Here are some effective ways to enhance privacy in your garden:
1. Fencing
- Install a tall, solid wooden or vinyl fence. This is one of the most straightforward ways to gain immediate privacy. Or use lattice panels, trellis, or slatted fencing to add a decorative touch while still offering privacy.
2. Hedges and Plants
- Fast-growing evergreen shrubs or trees like Leylandii, Thuja, or Bamboo along the boundary of your garden can help with privacy. Grow a dense hedge using plants like Boxwood, Privet, or Laurel. It may take time to grow, but it provides a natural and green privacy screen. Use climbers like Ivy, Clematis, or Wisteria on fences or trellises to create a lush, green privacy barrier.
3. Outdoor Curtains
- Hang outdoor curtains around pergolas, gazebos, or patios for an easy-to-adjust privacy solution.
4. Sound Barriers
- A water fountain or small waterfall can help drown out noise, adding to the sense of privacy. Or install fencing designed to reduce noise if privacy from sound is also a concern.
Rather than opting for a privacy fence, she decided to invest in privacy trees.
She chose pleached hornbeams, which she described as the “perfect screen.”
In the video caption, she elaborated: “The difference these pleached hornbeams have made to the end of the garden is amazing.
“I hated looking out of the window and seeing that house behind us.
“We bought mature trees, which was a more expensive option, but we wanted coverage as soon as possible.”
What are your rights over a fence row?
IT'S very important to know your rights if you are embroiled in a fence row with a neighbour.
How do I know which side I own?
A boundary feature can be a fence, wall, hedge, ditch, piece of wire, or sometimes even just the edge of a driveway.
The only way to know for certain who owns what side and to avoid any neighbour disputes, is to refer to the title plan or Land Registry.
In this, the T mark is used to indicate who the boundary belongs to and therefore who is responsible for its upkeep, say pros at Jacksons Fencing.
Larger developments tend to have some indication provided by the builder, but there are no hard and fast rules
People often think they are responsible for the left (or right) hand boundary wherever they live, but there isn’t any legal basis for this.
You can check with HM Land Registry to see which boundary feature you are responsible for.
Often households can’t get hold of the paperwork but experts say they shouldn’t panic.
Homeowners can guess who owns the fence by checking where the rails are.
Pros say: “The fence is typically facing away from their property so that their neighbour gets the ‘good’ side.
“This is the most secure way of facing fencing so there are no rails for anyone to use to climb into your garden.
“This is then repeated with the neighbour on the other side to ensure that each home has both a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ fence side.”
Walls and fences are often built on the land of the boundary’s owner with the edge of the wall marking the limit.
While professionals agree a glimpse at the fence can give you a hint, it’s not foolproof – so you can’t be certain.
Fines and punishment
It is recommended to always check legal documents before making changes to avoid hefty fines.
There is no law that the neighbour has to get the good side of the fence, so it’s completely up to whoever owns the fence.
Fencing pros have suggested: “It may be worth selecting a double-sided panel with no ‘bad’ side as both sides look the same and rails are concealed within the fence panel.”
If one boundary backs onto a road or footpath you can install the panels with the rails on the inside
But if it’s installed on the outside, it can provide an “easy ladder for burglars to enter your garden”.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Property Litigation Association have created a mediation service to help neighbours resolve disputes over their property boundaries without resorting to court action.
RICS also provides a list of surveyors who could assist in boundary disputes.
If a dispute continues, it is ultimately a court that makes decisions, but they do not like such disputes being put before them.
Changing a boundary
If you want to change an existing boundary, such as replacing an old fence with a new one, we always recommend discussing with your neighbour first and making sure it is all agreed.
The registered titles can help you to reach an agreement, but only if this information has been added.
In terms of decorations on a fence legal advisers recommended asking around over who actually first installed it.
But they also urged caution before getting to work on amending the fence without getting more certainty yourself – since there is a danger of actually being prosecuted for criminal damage.
How high can a garden fence be?
The height of the fence is measured from your ground level, this can have an impact when, due to slopes in the ground, your garden may be at a higher level than your neighbours‘.
A garden fence can be as high as 100m but you need to get planning permission if it’s over than 2m.
However, there are some complications to this.
If you are thinking about front garden fences, restrictions state that fences alongside a driveway can be a maximum of 1m or 3ft.
You would need to get planning permission for putting a trellis on a fence of 2m.
But, if any plant that you grow on that trellis exceeds 2m, you do not need to obtain a permit for the growing plant.