How to Screen an Overlooking Window
A neighbouring upstairs window can make an otherwise attractive garden feel exposed. The problem is especially common in new-build developments, smaller urban gardens and properties surrounded by houses on higher ground.
The good news is that screening one overlooking window is often easier than trying to screen the entire garden. A carefully positioned specimen tree, pleached tree, pergola or structural screen can interrupt the direct line of sight while retaining natural light and open space.
The key is to screen the window where privacy is needed rather than simply making every boundary taller.
Identify the Sightline
Begin by standing or sitting in the part of the garden where you want privacy.
This might be:
A patio
An outdoor dining area
A garden sofa or fire-pit area
A hot tub
A swimming pool
An outdoor kitchen
A frequently used lawn
A garden room
A room looking out into the garden
Look directly towards the neighbouring window and identify the line between it and the area you want to protect.
This will help you determine:
Where the screening should be positioned
How high it needs to be
Whether one tree could solve the problem
Whether a wider planted screen is required
Whether screening closer to the seating area would be more effective
Whether privacy is also needed from inside your house
For broader advice covering several windows or neighbouring properties, read our guide to screening an overlooked garden.
Screen the Window, Not Necessarily the Whole Boundary
It is easy to assume that screening must be positioned along the garden boundary. This is not always the most effective solution.
The farther the screen is from the area requiring privacy, the taller it may need to be. A screen positioned closer to a patio or seating area can often interrupt the same sightline at a lower height.
For example, a pergola, small group of pleached trees or carefully positioned specimen tree near the patio may create more useful privacy than an extremely tall hedge at the bottom of the garden.
Targeted screening can:
Preserve more natural light
Reduce the amount of planting required
Avoid enclosing the whole garden
Create privacy more quickly
Retain views of the sky
Form an attractive feature within the design
Screening a Ground-Floor Window
A ground-floor window can often be screened using conventional boundary treatments.
Suitable options may include:
Hedging
Fencing
Slatted screening
Decorative panels
Evergreen shrubs
A mixed planted border
Trellis and climbing plants
The solution should be high enough to interrupt the view without being unnecessarily dominant.
Where possible, combine structural screening with planting so that the boundary feels like part of the garden rather than a defensive barrier.
Screening a First-Floor Window
First-floor overlooking is one of the most common privacy problems.
A conventional fence often provides little protection because the viewing angle passes above it. Potential solutions include:
A standard-form tree
A pleached tree
A row of pleached trees
An evergreen screening tree
A mature specimen tree
A multi-stem tree
A pergola near the seating area
A hedge combined with trees
Trees are particularly useful because their foliage can be positioned at the height of the unwanted view while leaving useful space beneath.
Screening a Second-Storey Window
A second-storey window creates a higher sightline and requires more careful positioning.
Consider:
The height of the neighbouring window
The distance between the properties
The location of the area requiring privacy
The height at which the tree canopy begins
The eventual spread of the canopy
The mature height of the tree
The effect on daylight
Whether screening can be positioned closer to the patio
The screen does not necessarily need to reach the height of the neighbouring window. It only needs to intersect the line between that window and the area you want to protect.
Trying to grow a conventional hedge high enough to screen a second-storey window may create excessive shade and difficult maintenance. A strategically positioned tree is usually more appropriate.
Use a Specimen Tree to Interrupt the View
A specimen tree is often the most natural way to screen one particular window.
The canopy can be positioned across the direct sightline while the clear stem leaves valuable space beneath. This makes standard trees particularly useful where the garden is narrow or where ground-level screening already exists.
A suitable tree can also provide:
Spring blossom
Autumn colour
Attractive bark
Shade
Wildlife habitat
Movement and sound
A focal point within the garden
The ideal tree should have a canopy at the appropriate height and a mature spread that suits the available space.
Avoid choosing a tree solely because it grows quickly. An unsuitable tree can eventually become too large, cast excessive shade or require repeated pruning.
Explore our guide to trees for screening neighbours or browse our available specimen trees.
Use Pleached Trees for Precise Screening
Pleached trees are one of the most effective solutions for screening an overlooking window.
They have clear stems supporting a trained panel of branches, creating an elevated screen above a wall, hedge or fence. This allows privacy to be added at the height where it is actually needed.
Pleached trees work particularly well when:
Several windows overlook the same boundary
The view begins above an existing fence
Ground-level space is limited
A formal appearance is preferred
Screening is required around a patio
A continuous elevated screen is needed
They are sometimes described as a hedge on stilts.
Evergreen pleached trees provide more consistent screening throughout the year. Deciduous varieties provide spring and summer privacy while allowing additional light through during winter.
View our pleached hedging and screening options.
Pleached Trees Above a Fence
Where a fence already provides ground-level privacy, pleached trees can extend the screening upwards without requiring a very tall solid boundary.
The clear stems are positioned close to the fence, while the trained panels screen the overlooking window above it.
Pleached Trees Above a Wall
Pleached trees can also be planted behind a wall to provide elevated foliage.
Check that there is enough soil volume, planting space and access for installation. The trees will also need regular watering and maintenance while they establish.
Pleached Trees Above Hedging
An existing hedge may provide lower-level screening, with pleached trees positioned behind or within it to deal with higher sightlines.
The spacing and planting positions need careful planning to avoid excessive competition and allow access for maintenance.
Standard Trees for Window Screening
A standard tree has a clear trunk supporting a crown of branches and foliage.
This form works particularly well where lower-level privacy is already provided by a fence or hedge. The tree canopy then deals with the overlooking above it.
One carefully positioned standard tree may be enough to screen a single window. Several may be required where the sightline changes as you move through the garden.
Multi-Stem Trees for Softer Screening
Multi-stem trees create a softer visual filter.
Their stems, branches and foliage can break up the unwanted view without creating a completely solid screen. They are particularly effective in informal gardens and around seating areas.
Multi-stem trees usually occupy more width at ground level than standard trees, so sufficient planting space must be allowed.
Evergreen or Deciduous Screening?
Before choosing an evergreen screen, consider when the garden is most frequently used.
If privacy is mainly required during spring and summer, a deciduous tree may provide sufficient screening while allowing more winter light into the house and garden.
Evergreen trees and hedging provide year-round cover but can create heavier shade. They may be more appropriate where:
The garden is used throughout the year
The overlooking window is close to the boundary
Privacy is also required from inside the house
The neighbouring property is particularly prominent
A permanently green background is preferred
A mixture of evergreen and deciduous planting can create a softer and more varied result.
Screening a Patio or Seating Area
A patio does not always need to be screened at the boundary.
Privacy may be created closer to the seating area using:
A specimen tree
A small group of pleached trees
A pergola
A slatted screen
An arbour
Layered planting
A combination of structural and living screening
Screening closer to the users may interrupt the sightline at a lower height and preserve more space and light elsewhere in the garden.
Check the view while sitting down as well as standing. The relevant line of sight can change considerably.
Use a Pergola for Localised Privacy
A pergola can create a more intimate outdoor room and provide targeted screening close to the area where privacy is required.
Screening can be added through:
Slatted side panels
Trellis
Climbing plants
A partially covered roof
Curtains or retractable screens
Planting around the structure
A pergola may be particularly effective where an upstairs window looks directly down onto a patio, outdoor kitchen or dining area.
Any substantial structure should be checked against relevant planning restrictions before installation.
Add a Decorative Screen
A decorative timber or metal panel can provide immediate privacy while new planting establishes.
It can be positioned:
Beside a patio
Behind an outdoor sofa
Along one side of a pergola
Within a planted border
At an angle to interrupt a particular view
The screen does not always need to be completely solid. Slatted panels can obscure the direct sightline while allowing light and air to pass through.
Planting shrubs, grasses or climbers around the screen will help integrate it into the garden.
Can Hedging Screen an Upstairs Window?
Conventional hedging can provide excellent privacy at ground level, but it may need to become excessively tall to screen an upstairs window.
Very tall hedging can:
Cast significant shade
Take up valuable garden space
Require specialist maintenance
Affect neighbouring daylight
Make a smaller garden feel enclosed
Where the required screening begins above an existing fence, pleached trees or specimen trees are often more appropriate than allowing a hedge to grow indefinitely.
Hedging may still form part of the solution by providing lower-level privacy beneath the tree canopies.
Browse our available hedging plants.
Screening One Window or Several Windows
One carefully positioned tree may be sufficient where a single window creates the problem.
Where several windows overlook the same boundary, consider:
A row of pleached trees
Several standard trees
A mixture of tree forms
Hedging beneath elevated tree canopies
A screen positioned closer to the private area
Avoid creating more screening than is necessary. Breaking up the sightlines can make the garden feel private without hiding every neighbouring building completely.
Combine Different Screening Methods
The most effective solution may use more than one type of screening.
For example:
A hedge can screen the lower boundary.
Pleached trees can interrupt the upstairs view.
A specimen tree can screen one particularly intrusive window.
A pergola can protect the main seating area.
Climbers can soften structural screens.
Shrubs and perennials can conceal the bases of trees and fencing.
This layered approach provides privacy at different heights and usually looks more natural than one very tall barrier.
Our guide to trees, hedging and fencing for garden privacy explains the advantages and limitations of each option.
Avoid Creating Too Much Shade
Privacy is important, but the screening should not make the garden or house unnecessarily dark.
Consider:
The direction of the sun
How shadows will move during the day
The distance between the screen and your windows
The mature density of the foliage
The eventual canopy spread
Whether winter sunlight is important
The effect on neighbouring properties
A deciduous or lightly branched tree may provide sufficient interruption without creating the same shade as a dense evergreen screen.
Choose the minimum effective height and width rather than automatically selecting the largest plants available.
Choosing the Right Tree
Before selecting a tree to screen an overlooking window, consider:
The height at which the canopy begins
The mature height and spread
Whether it is evergreen or deciduous
The density of the foliage
The available planting space
The distance from buildings and boundaries
Soil conditions
Exposure to wind
Access for delivery and planting
Future maintenance
Watering during establishment
A larger tree can provide a quicker result, but the right species, form and planting position are more important than size alone.
Planning and Neighbour Considerations
Normal fencing and built screening are subject to height and planning restrictions. Pergolas and other substantial structures may also require permission depending on their size, position and the property.
Trees and hedging are treated differently, but very tall evergreen screening can still cause disputes.
Before installing substantial screening:
Confirm the boundary position.
Check any restrictive property covenants.
Review relevant planning requirements.
Consider the effect on neighbouring daylight.
Allow sufficient room for plants to mature.
Discuss major boundary changes with neighbours where appropriate.
Seek advice from the local planning authority if you are uncertain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Way to Screen an Overlooking Window?
A strategically positioned specimen tree or pleached tree is often the most effective solution because its foliage can be placed at the height of the window.
How Tall Does the Screening Need to Be?
The screening only needs to interrupt the sightline between the window and the private area. Its required height therefore depends on its position as well as the height of the neighbouring window.
Can One Tree Screen a Neighbouring Window?
Yes. If there is one principal window and a fixed area requiring privacy, one carefully positioned tree may be sufficient.
Are Pleached Trees Good for Screening Windows?
Yes. Their clear stems and elevated trained panels make pleached trees particularly effective above fences and walls.
Can I Screen a Window Without Making My Garden Dark?
Use targeted screening, a deciduous tree or a lighter canopy rather than surrounding the garden with dense evergreen planting. Retaining gaps between tree canopies can also preserve views of the sky.
Can I Use a Pergola for Privacy?
Yes. A pergola positioned around a patio can interrupt views from an upstairs window. Side screens, trellis, climbers or a partially covered roof can increase privacy.
Is Hedging Suitable for Screening Upstairs Windows?
Hedging is generally better for ground-level privacy. Specimen or pleached trees are often more suitable where screening is required above a fence or hedge.
Professional Window Screening Across North West England
Landscaping Emporium supplies and professionally plants trees, pleached trees and hedging for garden privacy across North West England.
Our working area includes Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, including Blackburn, Bolton, Chorley, Clitheroe, Preston, Wigan, Warrington, Manchester, Liverpool and the Ribble Valley.
To help us understand the sightline, send:
A photograph of the overlooking window
A photograph taken from the area requiring privacy
Approximate garden measurements
The boundary position
Any access restrictions
An indication of whether year-round privacy is required
We can then help identify whether a specimen tree, pleached tree, hedge, pergola or combined solution is most appropriate.
Call 01942 604976 or email hello@landscapingemporium.co.uk to discuss your garden.