I forked out £2k on a blackout privacy fence – but I forgot about an important step & now everyone can still see in

Scottish Sun

10-07-2025

Trolls said she should've known neighbours would still be able to see in
OH NO I forked out £2k on a blackout privacy fence – but I forgot about an important step & now everyone can still see in
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
NO ONE wants nosey neighbours being able to peep into their garden, especially during the hot summer months.
That's why this homeowner decided to fork out to get some privacy trees installed in her garden.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
The homeowner fumed on TikTok after forking out for the trees
Credit: tiktok/@jennymarriner
2
Some people said the trees might work next year, but not everyone was so sure
Credit: tiktok/@jennymarriner
Jenny Marriner took to TikTok to show off the trees, but she made a big mistake.
Despite paying £2,000 for the trees, which were allegedly sold as privacy trees, Jenny didn't realise she'd have to wait for them to grow in to reap their full benefits.
"When you pay £2k for some 'privacy trees' but they have about four leaves on each one," she captioned the clip.
In the viral video she showed the trees, which had been freshly plated along the garden fence.
But rather than mature trees with all the leaves she was expecting, the trees offered little in the way of privacy.
But after sharing her fury online people told Jenny she was foolish to expect more.
"You should have paid £4k for mature trees then," one person slammed in the comments.
Another agreed: "You need to give it a few years, be patients, it will be worth the wait."
But some thought it was unlikely the trees would live that long.
"Roots are going to destroy the rendered block work in a few years, if they survive that long not being planted in the ground," one said.
I hate my new build garden being overlooked so found a 5 METRE privacy fence to block out nosy neighbours for under £30
Meanwhile, others were much more hopeful for Jenny's purchase, and encouraged her to wait it out.
"Container grown trees don't grow much the first season. Wait until next year, should be better," one said.
If you do want to add some privacy to your garden, these tips will help.
Paul Parker, CEO of plants and perennials specialists J. Parker's, said privacy can be achieved using plants.
Block sight lines
An arbour, pergola or gazebo are all easy ways of increasing privacy if you're overlooked by upper windows.
Cover any of these structures with beautiful climbing perennials or trailing plants to truly create your own natural private space.
arieties such as clematis, climbing hydrangea, and wisteria, are great for adding privacy to your garden, also these climbing perennials are flowering vines that will come back year after year.
Cover up fences with evergreen climbers
If you want to disguise fences, balcony railings or rooftop spaces, evergreen climbers are a fantastic solution.
Star Jasmine would be my top choice, it's a hardy, vigorous grower with glossy evergreen foliage, so it's the perfect all-year-round cover.
In summer, it bursts into fragrant, star-shaped flowers that fill your garden with an enticing scent.
Add bushy potted plants
Growing bushy potted plants helps give you the cover you need, and they're mobile so you can move them around whenever you like.
It's an easy way to improve privacy that also adds a good dose of foliage to your outdoor space.
Choose plants that have a good width spread to grow a privacy wall of foliage.