Creating a private garden on a budget!

[hitthegroundrunning]

Hi all,

 

I live in a very exposed housing estate with hardly any greenery. I can see my neighbors living room window from my kitchen window, and vice versa. The house opposite looks down upon my garden too.  I want advice on what large plants or trees that I can buy, on a budget, that will form a barrier between me and my neighbours so I can also chill in the garden without being stared at! Would prefer potted plants. 

 

Thanks in advance. 

[alfalfa19]

it seems like such plants would be quite inexpensive in Thailand.   Have you tried the weekend market in bangkok (chatuchak?)  It seems like they have everything there.  I'm not sure if the market still exists, as I knew it.  

[sbf]

Yes Chatuchak plant market is still going, held every Wednesday and Thursday. Good for specialist stuff but a little pricey by Thai standards.  If on a very tight budget there are cheaper places to buy plants around Bangkok and anyway OP locates himself as in Phuket.  Try the large Supercheap near Phuket Town for some cheap bargain plants, small range but quite well priced. Plenty of other nurseries around the island, although a trip to Phang Nga will usually enable you to get the same plants cheaper. There is quite a good little nursery a couple of km after the Sarasin bridge on the left side of the road, about 1 km before the traffic lights where the road splits near Khokloi.  

[Lacessit]

Google is your friend. Leylandii is almost universally recommended as a fast-growing hedge; however, I don't know if it's available in Thailand. Bamboo certainly is.

[MikeN]

First thing to consider is, do you live on a moo baan with any restrictions on what you can plant? A guy I know was told he could not plant this because it grew too big, nor that as it was “too messy”.

It sounds as if you have a small garden, so you want something that grows upright, not spreading.

 How about a bamboo, such as bambusa multiplex , which comes in a few varieties that grow up to about five meters, or less in a pot. Have a read of this :

http://boonthammeebamboogarden.blogspot.com/p/bamboo-plants-in-our-nursery.html

 Or put up a wire trellis and grow some vines up it ?

[Siliquastrum]

For instant results construct a pagoda or wooden framework and create a wire framework or cover with green netting.  Then you can cover with plants at your convenience.

[jak2002003]

I personally would not choose bamboo.  Its forever dropping leaves and you will be sick of sweeping up every day.

 

For potted tall easy plants I recommend the following:

 

Yellow Palm

Lady Palm

Green Palm

 

There are bushy, easy to look after and take a lot of neglect.  The lady palm is a bit slow growing and prefers semi shade.  The other 2 grown really fast.

 

Lipstick palms are also great... I find they do better in shade or semi shade.  They are a bit more expensive then the others are slow growing. They also need lots of water and should never dry out or it will die.

 

There is a fast growing evergreen shrub that is very easy to care for.  I don't know the name of it, but you see it in all the plant shops.  Its got small glossy dark green leaves and the young leaves are bright red colour.  

 

Bougainvillea is a good one to... just be careful of the spikes!!  likes full sun.  Has bright coloured 'flowers'.

 

Getting some cheap ferns and hanging them in baskets in the shady side on your house will also provide good privacy.  Don't let them dry out!

 

Finally the bird of paradise plants come in a wide range of different sizes.  The big ones have really nice flowers and can get meters tall, with lovely big dark green leaves. 

 

Here is a good website I found.... as you will find there are many more plants to choose from.

 

https://www.thaigardendesign.com/plant-lists/

 

Post some pics when you have planted up you place... and enjoy the relaxing in the garden!!

 

 

[StevieAus]

Agree with most of the above comments the cost of plants and trees here certainly compared with Australia and I understand the UK are very reasonable and a huge variety.

You have the added benefit of a good climate for growing particularly if you feed and water them well.

As I live in the North cannot give you any names of garden centers but have seen the name of the market above mentioned in many articles.

If you know anyone with frangipanies ask them to break off a branch for you especially the white variety which grow quickly

then it will be totally free.

[cooked]

Most stuff grows quite quickly in Thailand so for myself I would consider a cheap (temporary) bamboo or even plastic otherwise used for shading, fence, and buy small plants. I get most of my horticultural pleasure from watching my garden grow and develop over the years, but that's just me.

As for plant choice, as a beginner I would advise looking around at what places like supermarkets, hotels and the like use and take fotos of what I fancied. 

Plenty of choice as far as potted plants are concerned, your main expense might be the pots themselves. Watering is also a constant chore if you use pots.

[dick dasterdly]

17 hours ago, Siliquastrum said:

For instant results construct a pagoda or wooden framework and create a wire framework or cover with green netting.  Then you can cover with plants at your convenience.

I agree.  I have a chain link fence along one side of my garden that is (admittedly very slowly) being taken over by a self-seeded variety of (I assume) wild, sweet pea.  Ideal - especially if you have a small garden, as it completely smothers the fence, doesn't grow 'outwards', and is also very attractive.

 

Unfortunately, I can't think of any climbers available for sale that are as effective.  I was just lucky that a wild sweet pea seeded there.

 

Bougainvillea, Jasmine (etc. etc. - there are many shrubs that are tree-like, height wise) are also great for blocking an unwanted view - but they mostly take up a lot of room unless constantly pruned.  Bamboo is also great in this respect, but grows VERY quickly - and, as pointed out by Jak, it drops a lot of leaves.  When the clump of bamboo grows very thick (which it will...), I'm told that it's a much-appreciated hide-out for cobras.  I've no idea whether this is true or not, but it wouldn't suprise me.

 

There is also a type of tree that reminds me of Leylandii that grows as fast as Bamboo - but is very ugly as a hedge IMO, as it clearly doesn't want to be a hedge!  At least bamboo looks reasonably attractive when continually pruned.

[hitthegroundrunning]

Thank you ALL so much for your detailed advice! Yes, the palms may be the best option, our neighbours have just put some on their side.

 

Garden too small for a pagoda, but I like the idea of bamboo boundaries. Don't have much time for pruning but sweeping no problem. 

 

Thanks again.