Living Garden Screens: Natural Privacy with Style
Creating privacy in your garden doesn’t have to mean installing fences or walls. Living screens offer a softer, greener alternative — using plants to form natural barriers that bring life, colour, and seasonal interest to your outdoor space.
With long trough planters and carefully chosen hedging plants, you can build beautiful, functional screens that work in gardens, patios, courtyards, and even balconies.
What Is a Living Screen?
A living screen is a row or grouping of plants grown close together to create a visual barrier. They can block unwanted views, shelter you from wind, and help define outdoor “rooms” — all while providing a habitat for wildlife.
Unlike solid fences, living screens change with the seasons, soften harsh edges, and add a more natural, welcoming feel to your space.
Why Use Long Trough Planters for Living Screens?
Planting directly into the ground isn’t always possible — especially in paved areas, on balconies, or where you want a temporary or moveable screen. That’s where long trough planters come in.
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Perfect for Narrow Spaces: Long planters fit neatly against fences, walls, or along the edge of patios.
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Flexibility: You can move them to create shade, reconfigure your layout, or take your plants with you if you move house.
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Root Control: For vigorous hedging plants, planters help manage growth and prevent roots from spreading.
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Instant Impact: Large trough planters give enough soil depth for mature plants, so you can start with ready-grown hedging for immediate results.
Best Hedging Plants for Living Screens
When choosing plants for your living screen, look for species that are dense, hardy, and suited to container growing:
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Laurel: Evergreen, fast-growing, and perfect for year-round privacy.
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Bamboo: Tall, elegant, and rustling — ideal for a contemporary look (use planters to control its spread).
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Photinia ‘Red Robin’: Evergreen leaves with bright red new growth for a pop of colour.
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Box (Buxus sempervirens): Classic, neat, and easy to shape.
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Portuguese Laurel: A sophisticated evergreen with dark green leaves and small white flowers in summer.
Design Ideas for Living Screens
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Urban Courtyards: Use tall bamboo or evergreen laurel in long trough planters to create a private oasis.
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Balcony Privacy: Choose compact hedging plants in lightweight trough planters for screening without adding too much weight.
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Patio Zoning: Position living screens to divide dining and lounge areas for a more intimate feel.
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Wind Protection: Plant dense, wind-tolerant hedging to make exposed seating areas more comfortable.
Caring for Living Screens in Planters
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Choose a deep trough planter to give roots room to grow.
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Use quality compost with slow-release fertiliser for steady growth.
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Water regularly, especially in summer, as containers dry out faster than ground soil.
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Prune annually to keep plants dense and in shape.
Bring Your Garden to Life
With long trough planters and the right hedging plants, creating a living screen is simple and stylish. It’s a practical way to add privacy, beauty, and greenery to your outdoor space — whether you’re in the countryside or the heart of the city.
Explore Woven Wood’s range of planters and plants to start building your perfect natural screen today.
