hedge screen to block view from neighbours

[Violet1]

Hi there. Some shrubs that were planted to block neighbours had grown too high and had them prunned. Unfortunately their roots seem to have spread  and as there are pipes not to far away I thought of getting ride of them all together. The problem though is if I do there is the ugly sight of fence and again the neighbours looking into my private space as I have a low set and theres is a 2 storey home. My question is I dont want to plant again, but can I replace trees to grow in large pots successfully and permanently toscreen out neighbours, and is mock orange a good plant to put in these pots? Your advise would be gratefully appreciated.

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Violet1. It's great to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about screening.

It can be challenging to grow large, tall shrubs in pots long-term, as they may struggle with restricted root space and require frequent watering and maintenance. While mock orange (Murraya paniculata) can be grown in pots, it may not reach the same height or density as when planted in the ground.

A better option might be to install raised garden beds along the fence line. This would allow you to control root spread while still providing enough soil depth for plants to thrive. A raised bed also lifts the plants higher, giving you extra screening height. If you prefer a potted option, consider tall feature plants like bamboo in large containers or using climbing plants on a trellis to help block the view. Here's a helpful guide: How to build a raised garden bed.

Also, you might like to check out these articles: How to choose a screening plant and How to choose a hedging plant.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @Violet1 

Yes some plants will do horrible things with their roots.

Whenever I am aiming at a larger or more permanet plant I will google the plants habits. Such that get the plants scientfic name xyz and search

( xyz habits) in google.  Especially the roots in your situation.

But check for things like is it poison to pets, is it susceptible to diseases how far apart for good coverage do you want evergreen etc.

There are so many plants that will be more well behaved for you and look nice.

[Violet1]

Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated.

[Violet1]

Thanks Mitchell for taking the time to answer my question.