Sure, just click the 'More Info' beneath the pic to go to the project. If @Mars Landscapes has uploaded those similar pics to a project on their profile page, you can save them from there too!

Thanks so much everyone for great advice. We're in Qld in the Sunshine Coast region. Lipstick palms grow in Far North Qld. We already have a few Golden Canes in pool area, a Foxtail palm and Fish tail palm in the front part of the garden and hubby doesn't want any more. It's an odd shaped area as it's a triangular courtyard at back half of the house that 2 bedrooms open onto. It's a bit hard to see in the pictures but there isn't room for a tree in front of the planter box due to the narrow area and there is also drainage in front of this. Then the concrete path leads to clothesline. So I think we're still looking at bamboo inside the planter box (currently herbs) with maybe a ginger in between for some colour/interest. Hopefully it won't look too out of place.

Another route to consider is a vine of some sort. It could be placed within your planter and cover however much of your fence as you want. With the addition of trellis or framing as suggested above it would grow as high as the supporting structure would allow. There are some great flowering vines like a Climbing Guinea Flower

Or you could consider a fruiting vine like a passionfruit vine or grape vine. My personal experience has been that a passionfruit vine will be very green, have lovely flowers and delicious fruit and will grow as high as the fence. Mine was a little slow growing to start with but after about 4 months it took off and had covered the high retaining wall and fence area (about 2.5 metres high) within 8 months. I live in North Brisbane.

Lilli Pilli's. Native, attract birds and bees, can be hedged to look formal, cheap screening.....

You can always go the James Stirling (or equivalent) - you can trim them thinly - they grow quickly - and you can trim the top to the height you want. With the bed being so thin you just need to give plants a little bit more love than what you would normally do to minimise stress. I have some in a bed (approx 15-20cm) along pool (with black fence behind) and I keep them super thin to meet permit requirements (thickness of branches within the climbing zone - so it cannot take weight of child).

Or instead of trying to hide the shed you could make a real focal point in front of your fence, water feature, bright colours, etc so your eyes are drawn to that rather than the shed.

The fence is rather bare at the moment - as soon as you plant something with a bit of height (regardless if it is above the fence) your eye won't be drawn to the shed as much.

Would your neighbours let you paint the side of the shed, then you could do it the same colour as the fence, wouldn't look so imposing then?. My daughter used bamboo to screen the front, only planted in .5 metre wide bed with clumping, non running bamboo. Did the job and looked fabulous in 2 years.

Be warned, Both Jacarandas and Mop Tops grow FAR too big for that slim area . Frangipani take a long while to grow that high and also like to spread.

I have used the strong "RIO" concrete reinforcing wire, attached to my fence,and buried into the ground, it is about 3 mts tall and stands strong. Until your vine grows paint the upper portion with a similar colour to the shed and it will disappear. It is also relatively inexpensive..

As far as choosing a climber, the list is extensive, look around your area for ideas.You could try Mandavillias, there are many varieties and will grow very rapidly in your area, They are very pretty and come in many shades of red pink and white, some are even a mixture of these colours. Would look good with a few different ones, an added bonus they are long flowering..

As I don't know the whole situation, have you thought of maybe asking the owner of the shed if you could supply the paint and do the painting of the back wall of their shed to match the colour of your fence? Maybe invite them around for a cuppa and let them see what you see, they might be very understanding. Do you need a shade sail in that area at all, that may reduce the problem? I don't live in QLD, but don't Frangipani loose their leaves in winter. Are there any Grevilias that grow well in QLD, the birds love them and the ones I have seem to have flowers all year round and they can become quite dense.

Have you checked whether that shed has had Council approval? It looks to impact on your property too much not to have had your input prior to approval. It is way too big for a standard garden shed and it appears you are further disadvantaged by sloping ground that places your property lower than next door. Check your local by-laws.

I think the shed colour is fine, if you were to paint it the same colour as the fence it would really loom out at you. Rather have that there that a big looming block of flats or similar

I agree with Mars Landscapes - bamboo is the way to go. You don't appear to have much room for planting anything that is bushy.

How about star jasmine on a simple frame of galvanised mesh, I've done similar in Canberra, in your climate it would grow quickly.

Star Jasmine smells nice and looks good but is an invasive weed. A native vine could be used instead, but probably slower growing.

Hi there

We are asked often asked to hide ugly neighbouring structures or privatise our clients backyards from neighbouring sites, see attached 3D visual below. This project included a privacy screen. Laser cut sheet material is available from many suppliers these days or can be custom made in a variety of materials. Good to get the structure up then plant around it over time the screen and your garden will work really nicely, but while you are waiting for the garden to grow you don't have to look at the ugly shed. A screen like this will be as of right if 1.5m away from the boundary or you maybe able to get a local authority relaxation and have it hard up on the fence line. if you are using your outdoor space as a living area it is worth spending the money otherwise landscaping may suffice Good luck with your project.

This idea of a screen is fantastic, it is instant and takes care of the privacy issue while a creeper grows and is still lets light through.

Hi, I have used this trellis idea several times to hide an unsightly view, once the trellis is filled up with your climber, it should just about obscure the shed, bear in mind the climber will sit about 20 cm above the trellis as it entwines around itself, Chinese Star Jasmine will be planted in this situation. If you DIY it's very cheap to accomplish...Good Luck... David

Thanks again everyone for comments. I really appreciate it. Still like the bamboo idea as I need at least 4 meters of height from the top of the planter box. I do love the idea of privacy screens however budget doesn't stretch that far and Im not sure they could do that type of height. He is a noisy neighbour that spends most of time in shed tinkering and I don't want to see it at all. We used to have a passionfruit vine there (hence the wire on fence) but it has lived it's life and is no more. Thinking of gracilis variety.

Lynette - there are laws against noise pollution!! If you do your homework, you could well have grounds to have the shed relocated. It is hard when you don't want to upset neighbours, but they do have to understand the impact their actions are having on you.

I can't believe how many people are suggesting to try and get the shed removed somehow! Not everyone lives on a tiny 500m block or unit in the city - she lives on the sunshine coast, many people have boats, and at least 2 cars that all get stored in sheds because we have the space! I would suggest planting something like star jasmine which grows quickly (especially in nice warm qld!), and having a trellis structure similar to the photos above for it to grow on. Will look and smell nice and wont drop any leaves. I would definitely never ever plant bamboo as it will take over (even the non running varieties), and you will be forever out there trimming it!

wml05 - Councils do have rules and regulations with respect to the erection of structures to protect neighbours from this type of situation. If this shed has not had Council approval or breaches building regulations, Lynette has the right to have it relocated.

I have to agree with wmI05, even clumping bamboo can be a challenge to manage long term, trellis and Star Jasmine will give you about 2.6 metres in height, maybe a bit more, but the feature will tend to focus your attention and not the shed. The small garden bed I can see in the image is possibly not wide enough anyway for bamboo.

I think ALL your neighbors will enjoy a lilly pilli :)

Why not paint the shed the same colour as the fence, no need to ask the neighbor, they will not care, and set up a hanging garden. Trees do make a mess and continual trimming also can give you a claustrophobic feel

kerrie2706 I would be very pi**ed if my neighbor took it upon themselves to just paint the back of my shed (on my property!) that I had paid good money for!

why on earth would you, you don't see it, come on. I have done it with no problems. Think about it and don't be so re active

I am sure it would be safest to ask first. Plus, just by having the conversation you could make them realise that the shed is an eyesore and you can work together to make it less conspicuous.

Safe to ask first first but seems its right on the boundary, regards to the back of the shed you only need to paint just below the fence line, hey it's an eyesore. You physically paint the fence on your side, just the same when you cut your neighbours branch on your side of the property. The shed owners didn't seem to worry about the eyesore they built for the next door's residents to look on, pleeease!

@Tracey Knowles- I had exactly the scenario of needing to block out next door, and used on recommendation a Guinea Flower vine. It absolutely blocked the view, climbing up supports and above fence trellis in a matter of months- even in cool Melbourne. However! The mess! As this was a seating area outside my dining room, it was always in view, and use. It was yanked out, in favour of Chinese Jasmine. Slower to grow, but much more civilised to live with...

Always a trade off I guess- the quicker it grows, the more messy dropped leaves ( and in the Guinea Flower case, spent flower heads ) you get!

Keita M,

Each council has different regulations so please check with your local council.

This structure was separate to the boundary fence and in the rear yard, no regulations I could find came into play.

We built this structure prior to the fence being installed (as shown in photo) but the lower angle was placed just above the proposed top of the fence height then angled up towards the gutter line so that it did not impose on the neighbour. It did not cast a shadow, as the neighbour is to the North and was no taller than the fence/dwelling.

I think its a great way to soften the harshness of the close proximity of the neighbouring properties without the expense and 'bulk' of a more solid built structure. A great deciduous climber will allow the winter sun in and block any summer sun that could enter this clients lounge.

Hope this helps some, but if in doubt you can always print off the photograph and speak with the planning officers in your area.

David.

We have the same situation, but their " carport " is much taller. It cuts out our winter sun until 11 am and has shot up our heating bill. No one warned or asked us, and due to Victorian planning regs, council won't do anything. They have cut out their own Northern sun, so they run their wood burner full time, burning some kind of wood that smokes straight down into our windows, affecting my athsma. Theirs is high enough to fit a boat with mast, or large truck, but they don't have either.

Welcome back Chook!

Thanks, I've been offline, but still keeping up with the latest interior trends. A bit confusing, Houzz will be needed to help people thread the mazes.

Hi, Chook, great to see you back, we have been quite concerned about you. Sorry to hear of your situation - some people just have no idea.

Hey, Roo!

Hey, Wuff!

That's an understatement Wuff!!

Brrr here. Rugging up, though. Staying out as much as possible as electric price gouging.