Picture this - you’ve just moved into your dream home. You’ve barely even unpacked because you’re so excited and eager to explore this incredible new place. You pop outside to sit back in the garden with a nice cool drink and book. You recline your seat back and find….. Neighbors. Watching on. From both sides. With a perfect view of your entire garden.

Unfortunately, it’s a very real and sobering reality that can quickly pull you from cloud nine and put you right back into the living room, afraid to go out and make the most of your backyard. However, with a little creativity and some planning, you can reclaim that perfect new home experience by making a few changes to get that privacy you’re deserving of. As you plan for garden privacy, explore Green living choices to create an eco-friendly and secluded outdoor space for your new home.

Researching which trees offer the most privacy

Fast growing privacy trees are absolutely essential if you want to relax and get some respite from the real world in the comfort of your own back garden. Not only are they nosy-neighbor proof, but they’re also the perfect way to incorporate shade, style, and security into your new place.

With the right tree, you can achieve heights between 20-70 feet. It really just depends on how much privacy you need! With many of these trees, the sweet and alluring scents they bring with them are a hugely rewarding and welcome addition to the garden.

Get creative with your levels

To add a little more creativity to your mission for ultimate peace of mind and privacy, certain areas of your garden can be even more secluded by using varying levels to help enclose seating areas and other shaded corners of your yard.

Once you’re happy with the levels you’ve created, you can add a few plants and shrubs to give the garden a little more style and seclusion.

Prioritize getting a good pergola

Have you made some important changes to achieve those privacy goals, but still don’t feel comfortable due to a top neighboring window that has a front row seat to your daily garden activities? Get a pergola and gain far more solace on those days when you just want to be outdoors but also need to feel alone.

Perfect for social gatherings, pergolas are structured to keep your garden activities private and away from the prying eyes of others. If you’re only just moving in and hope to have friends over in your garden, this could save you a great deal of stress.

Figure out your fencing restrictions

Whenever possible, it’s best to make a new home feel completely your own, including how much privacy you’d like when it comes to obscuring the view of your garden to other people. Have a long hard think about how it may affect the shade/sun ratio you’ll get in the summer, but consider what your options are for a little change in height here.

It’s important to be fair and make your neighbors aware of any drastic changes. And planning permission may be required for a large-scale alteration.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.