THERE is nothing more frustrating than curating the perfect garden only for it to be spoiled by an unsightly fence.
However, one gardening expert has shared her top tips on how to make it instantly ‘disappear’ and it will cost you less than a tenner.
Garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson shared her top tip with interior designer JoJo Barr on the podcast The Ins & Outs.
Co-host JoJo revealed that a listener was struggling with an unsightly fence.
“We’ve got a 3m high fence all along the back of our garden, what can I do to help soften it?” the listener asked.
“I was thinking of painting it black but what else can I do given we don’t want to lose too much more garden space to full on hedging.
“There are two tpo trees behind the fence, a cedar and an oak stealing all the nutrients from the soil hence needing to build the fence.
“The wall in the first place of the hedging behind it is very sparse, the wall is north west facing and under much cover so it’s slightly shady.”
Pollyanna explained that there is a very simple and cheap solution to the issue.
“My answer will always be the same,” she says, “Paint it dark and grow things up it.
“We are not painting it dark for you to look at the darkness, we’re painting it dark for you then to grow plants on it.
“The darkness is making it vanish, it’s making your ugly wall/ fence disappear.”
Gardening experts over at Toolstation have revealed the garden laws you need to be aware of not breaking.
While some of these laws could land you with a fine of up to £20,000 in extreme cases, a friendly chat with your neighbours can usually resolve any issues.
Tree removal and pruning: If you have a tree in your garden you want to get rid of you better think twice and do your research.
The gardening experts reveal: “If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy. “
While it might cause a row, if it is in your property boundary it is ultimately your choice, unless it has a Tree Protection Order on it.
“But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them, the experts warn.
The maximum fine for breaking this law is £20,000, so make sure you double check if it does have a TPO.
You can find out by contacting your local council for a map that shows this information. Alternatively, you can ask to speak with your local tree officer.
Property boundaries and fences: One of the main causes of neighbours falling out is through arguing over property boundaries and fencing.
To avoid this situation, the gardening pros recommend checking the deeds of your property to determine the correct boundaries
“Most of the time, it’s easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side,” they add.
“Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance.
“Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height.
“Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn’t have a problem.”
Garden structures and additions: A pergola is the perfect addition to a garden if you want somewhere to relax in the shade.
But if it obstructs your neighbour’s view or violates local building regulations it could cause a dispute, as can sheds and other garden structures.
“If you’re not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you’re planning and, if there’s an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance,” advise the gardening experts.
Overhanging branches and plants: “When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour’s tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance,” reveal the pros.
However, it’s important to note you can only trim overhanging branches up to the boundary of your property otherwise, it could be seen as trespassing.
You can climb into the tree to carry out the work if needed, but only on your property and make sure to stay on your side of the fence if you don’t have permission to enter your neighbours garden.
Painting a fence can be done cheaply with a can of shed and fence stain coming in at £8 if you head to Wickes.
Pollyanna also suggested a few climbing plants that can help disguise a garden fence.
The garden designer says that ivy, garrya elliptica and akebia trifoliata are all great options to help conceal fences and walls.
For those whose fences and walls are shading their garden, Pollyanna previously revealed the top grasses that will thrive in the shade.
“My favourite grass for part-shade – but it’s particularly hard to get hold of – would be melica uniflora albida,” the award winning garden designer said.
“It’s this very airy little grass that’s got tiny white clusters at the end, which look like dew drops.
“My other favourite, hakonechloa macra, can take quite a lot of shade just so long as it’s in well-drained soil.”
