How to Hide an Ugly View in Your Garden

An unattractive view can dominate a garden, even when everything else has been carefully designed. It might be a neighbouring building, an old fence, a garage wall, storage area, shed, row of bins or an awkward utility feature.

The right solution is not always to build the tallest possible screen. In many gardens, an unattractive view can be softened, disguised or redirected using planting, trees, hedging, decorative screens and carefully positioned focal points.

The best approach depends on what you want to hide, how far away it is, the height of the view and how much space is available.

Begin by Identifying What You Want to Hide

Start by looking at the unwanted view from the places where it is most noticeable.

This might include:

  • The windows of your house

  • A patio or dining area

  • An outdoor kitchen

  • A garden sofa or fire-pit area

  • A frequently used lawn

  • The route through the garden

  • A garden office or summerhouse

  • An upstairs bedroom window

The solution does not necessarily need to hide the view from every position. Concentrating on the most important viewpoints can produce a more attractive result without enclosing the whole garden.

Common problem views include:

  • A neighbouring extension

  • A garage or shed

  • An unattractive fence

  • A blank wall

  • Bins and recycling containers

  • Oil tanks and utility equipment

  • Air-source heat pumps

  • Composting areas

  • Garden storage

  • A car park or road

  • Industrial or commercial buildings

  • Telegraph poles and overhead wires

  • An unfinished neighbouring boundary

Once you have identified the principal viewpoint, consider whether the object needs to be completely hidden or simply made less noticeable.

Hide, Soften or Distract?

There are three principal ways to deal with an ugly view.

Hide It Completely

A solid fence, dense hedge, wall or evergreen screen can block the view entirely.

This can work well for low-level features such as bins, storage areas and unattractive boundaries. However, complete screening can also reduce light, restrict airflow and make a smaller garden feel enclosed.

Soften the View

Trees, climbers and layered planting can reduce the visual impact without creating a solid barrier.

This is often the best option for larger or more distant buildings that cannot realistically be hidden completely. Breaking up the shape with foliage may be enough to make the view feel less dominant.

Distract the Eye

Sometimes the most successful solution is to create something more attractive to look at.

A specimen tree, sculpture, water feature, fire feature or beautifully planted border can draw attention away from the unwanted view. The unattractive object may still be present, but it is no longer the first thing you notice.

In many gardens, the best result combines all three approaches.

Use Trees to Break Up a Distant View

A well-positioned specimen tree can soften a neighbouring building, garage roof or other elevated feature without creating a solid wall of planting.

The canopy interrupts the outline of the structure while the clear stem preserves space and light at ground level.

Trees can also introduce:

  • Spring blossom

  • Autumn colour

  • Attractive bark

  • Movement and sound

  • Wildlife habitat

  • Shade

  • A stronger sense of scale

  • A focal point within the garden

Before selecting a tree, consider its mature height, canopy spread, root development and proximity to buildings.

Avoid choosing a tree solely because it grows quickly. The wrong tree may eventually overwhelm the available space or require continual pruning.

Explore our guide to specimen trees for screening or browse our available specimen trees.

Use Pleached Trees for Elevated Screening

Pleached trees have clear stems supporting a trained panel of branches. They can provide screening above an existing wall or fence while retaining valuable space underneath.

They are particularly useful for disguising:

  • Neighbouring windows

  • Upper storeys of nearby houses

  • Garage roofs

  • Extensions

  • Industrial buildings

  • Raised roads or paths

  • Views beyond an existing boundary

A row of pleached trees creates a controlled, architectural screen. Evergreen varieties offer more consistent year-round coverage, while deciduous varieties allow additional winter light into the garden.

Pleached trees require regular maintenance to retain their trained shape, but they can be extremely effective where screening is needed at a precise height.

View our pleached hedging and screening options.

Plant a Hedge to Hide an Unattractive Boundary

Hedging can transform an unattractive fence, wall or open boundary into a living green backdrop.

Evergreen hedging provides year-round coverage. Suitable options may include:

  • Yew

  • Portuguese laurel

  • Cherry laurel

  • Holly

  • Privet

  • Western red cedar

  • Photinia ‘Red Robin’

Deciduous hedges such as beech and hornbeam create a softer, more seasonal appearance and may retain some of their old leaves during winter when clipped.

The right hedge depends on:

  • The available width

  • The required height

  • Soil conditions

  • Light levels

  • Exposure

  • Growth rate

  • Desired appearance

  • Maintenance requirements

Remember that fast-growing hedging normally requires more frequent cutting. Consider the mature size of the plant rather than choosing solely on the speed of initial growth.

Explore our available hedging plants.

Use Climbers to Soften Walls and Fences

Climbing plants can transform a plain wall or unattractive fence without occupying as much ground space as a hedge.

Depending on the growing conditions, options can include:

  • Evergreen jasmine

  • Ivy

  • Climbing hydrangea

  • Clematis

  • Honeysuckle

  • Climbing roses

  • Virginia creeper

  • Wisteria

Some climbers attach themselves directly to a surface, while others need wires, trellis or another support system.

Always consider the condition and construction of the wall or fence before planting a vigorous climber against it. Certain plants can become heavy or difficult to control if they are not regularly maintained.

A combination of climbing plants and shrubs can create better coverage than relying on one plant alone.

Install a Decorative Garden Screen

A decorative timber or metal screen can provide an immediate improvement while surrounding plants establish.

Screens are particularly useful for hiding:

  • Bins

  • Utility equipment

  • Composting areas

  • Storage spaces

  • Air-source heat pumps

  • Oil tanks

  • Garden machinery

  • An unattractive section of fencing

The screen does not necessarily need to be completely solid. Slatted designs can obscure the view while allowing air and some light to pass through.

This is particularly important around mechanical equipment that requires ventilation or access for maintenance.

Integrate the screen into the garden by planting shrubs, ornamental grasses, perennials or climbers around it.

Hide Bins Without Making Them Difficult to Use

Bins are easier to live with when they are convenient to reach, but this often means they occupy a prominent position near the house or driveway.

Possible solutions include:

  • A purpose-built timber bin store

  • Slatted screening

  • A short section of hedging

  • A planted screen

  • A decorative panel

  • A small enclosure incorporated into the front-garden design

Allow enough room to move the bins comfortably and make sure the route to the collection point remains practical.

Avoid enclosing bins so tightly that lids cannot be opened or the storage area becomes difficult to clean.

Screen Utility Equipment Carefully

Oil tanks, heat pumps, meters and other equipment can be difficult to integrate into a garden.

Before building a screen or adding planting, confirm the equipment’s requirements for:

  • Ventilation

  • Maintenance access

  • Safety clearances

  • Refilling

  • Inspection

  • Emergency access

  • Manufacturer warranties

An open slatted screen may be more appropriate than a solid enclosure. Planting should not interfere with airflow or make the equipment inaccessible.

Where necessary, obtain advice from the equipment manufacturer or installer before undertaking screening work.

Disguise an Ugly Fence

An unattractive fence can often be improved without replacing the entire boundary.

Options include:

  • Painting or staining it a darker colour

  • Adding horizontal timber battens

  • Fixing trellis above or in front of it

  • Planting climbers

  • Creating a hedge in front

  • Adding layered shrubs and perennials

  • Installing decorative panels at intervals

  • Using the fence as a background for sculpture or lighting

Dark colours can help a fence recede visually and make surrounding foliage appear more prominent.

Before adding weight through trellis, panels or climbing plants, check that the existing fence and posts are structurally sound.

Use Layered Planting

Layered planting can disguise an unattractive view more naturally than a single row of identical plants.

A successful arrangement might include:

  • Trees to interrupt taller views

  • Evergreen shrubs for year-round structure

  • Deciduous shrubs for flowers and seasonal colour

  • Ornamental grasses for movement

  • Perennials for changing interest

  • Ground-cover plants to complete the lower layer

  • Climbers against walls, screens or fences

Varying the plant heights creates depth and makes the boundary feel less obvious.

This approach takes more space than a narrow hedge, but it can make the garden feel larger by creating a gradual transition rather than a hard visual barrier.

Create a Better Focal Point

If the unwanted object cannot be hidden completely, give the eye something more interesting to focus on.

A focal point might include:

  • A specimen tree

  • A sculptural fire feature

  • A water feature

  • Garden sculpture

  • A decorative screen

  • An arbour or pergola

  • A carefully positioned seat

  • A striking container

  • A strongly planted border

  • An illuminated feature

The focal point should be positioned deliberately in relation to the principal view from the house or seating area.

Lighting can strengthen the effect in the evening by illuminating the feature while allowing the unwanted background to recede into darkness.

Use a Pergola or Garden Structure

A pergola can screen a view closer to the place where privacy or concealment is needed.

It may be more practical to create an attractive enclosed seating area than to screen an entire distant boundary.

Screening can be incorporated through:

  • Slatted side panels

  • Trellis

  • Climbing plants

  • Retractable screens

  • Curtains

  • A partially covered roof

  • Surrounding shrubs and trees

A structure can frame a more attractive part of the garden while excluding the unwanted view.

Check whether planning permission or other restrictions apply before constructing a substantial garden structure.

Frame the View Rather Than Blocking Everything

A garden does not need to reveal everything at once.

Planting, screens and structures can be positioned to frame selected views and conceal others. This can make the garden feel more interesting and encourage movement through the space.

For example:

  • A tree canopy might hide a neighbouring roof while framing the sky.

  • A hedge opening could reveal a sculpture or seating area.

  • A pergola could direct the view towards a planted border.

  • A screen could conceal bins while becoming a background for planting.

  • An archway could lead the eye away from an unattractive boundary.

Careful framing is often more effective than surrounding the garden with a continuous tall barrier.

Avoid Creating Too Much Shade

The desire to hide an unattractive view can lead to screening that is larger or denser than necessary.

Before planting or constructing a screen, consider:

  • The direction of the sun

  • The height actually required

  • The screen’s mature width

  • Its distance from the house

  • The effect on neighbouring properties

  • How it will appear during winter

  • Whether plants beneath it will receive enough light

  • How it will be maintained

Choose the minimum effective height and width rather than automatically selecting the largest plants available.

A deciduous or lightly branched tree may provide sufficient interruption without creating the same level of shade as a dense evergreen screen.

Allow for Access and Maintenance

Screening should not prevent access to anything that may need repair, inspection or replacement.

Retain access to:

  • Fence panels and posts

  • Drainage covers

  • Utility meters

  • Oil tanks

  • Heat pumps

  • External taps

  • Electrical equipment

  • Building walls

  • Gutters and downpipes

  • Garden storage

  • Neighbouring boundaries

Plants should also be positioned with enough room to reach them for pruning, watering and maintenance.

A screen that looks good initially can become a problem if it makes essential maintenance impossible.

Screening a View Beyond Your Boundary

If the unattractive feature belongs to a neighbouring property, you may not be able to alter it directly.

Instead, work entirely within your own garden using:

  • Trees

  • Hedging

  • Pleached trees

  • Decorative screens

  • Pergolas

  • Layered planting

  • Carefully positioned focal points

Make sure planting remains within your boundary and consider its eventual effect on neighbouring light and access.

For general privacy concerns, read our guide to creating privacy in a garden.

If the problem is specifically caused by neighbouring windows, see how to screen an overlooking window.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Fastest Way to Hide an Ugly Garden View?

A decorative screen or fence provides the quickest result. Surrounding it with planting will help it feel like part of the garden rather than a temporary barrier.

What Is the Best Tree for Hiding a Neighbouring Building?

The best tree depends on the height of the building, the required canopy position, available space, soil and light. Upright or carefully positioned specimen trees can interrupt the outline without occupying the whole garden.

How Can I Hide an Ugly Fence Cheaply?

Painting the fence a dark colour and adding climbers or shrubs can provide an effective improvement without replacing the entire boundary. Check that the fence is structurally sound before attaching trellis or supporting vigorous plants.

Can I Hide an Air-Source Heat Pump?

A heat pump can sometimes be visually screened, but the enclosure must not restrict airflow or maintenance access. Always follow the manufacturer’s clearance requirements.

How Can I Hide My Bins?

Use a purpose-built bin store, slatted screen, short hedge or planted enclosure. Make sure the bins remain easy to move and their lids can be opened fully.

Is Hedging Better Than Fencing?

Fencing provides immediate coverage and occupies less space. Hedging creates a softer, living boundary but needs time to establish and requires regular maintenance. Combining the two can provide immediate screening with a greener long-term appearance.

Do I Need Planning Permission for Garden Screening?

Normal fences and built screens are subject to height restrictions. Taller screens, raised structures and certain garden buildings may require permission. Check with your local planning authority if you are uncertain.

Screening Solutions Supplied and Installed

Landscaping Emporium supplies specimen trees, hedging, pleached trees and other screening solutions across North West England.

Professional planting and selected installation services are available throughout Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, including Blackburn, Bolton, Chorley, Clitheroe, Preston, Wigan, Warrington, Manchester, Liverpool and the Ribble Valley.

If you would like help hiding an unattractive view, send us photographs taken from the house and the main areas of the garden. We can help assess the required height, position, access and available planting space.

Call 01942 604976 or email hello@landscapingemporium.co.uk to discuss your garden.