Garden partition made easy: ideas and tips

Whether it's a large farmyard or a small front garden, a wild allotment or a modern urban garden: for many garden owners, their home's greenery is their ultimate private retreat – a place where they can leave everyday life behind and truly unwind. A garden partition can help create even more privacy or separate certain areas more clearly. In this article, we would like to introduce you to various options and offer tips for implementation. Be inspired!

Garden partition from the neighbor

Garden partition from the terrace or seating area

Garden partition from beds and usable areas

A cozy garden bench is a great retreat – especially when the Space is not so easily overlooked thanks to a natural garden partition. © ELEO

Garden Partition from the Neighbor

In the garden, you want to relax, enjoy nature, and be completely alone. A suitable boundary from the neighboring property or an adjacent street provides the necessary protection from prying eyes and also contributes to the aesthetic enhancement of the garden.

A beautiful option for separating the garden from the neighbors is evergreen hedges such as thuja, privet, or yew. They offer year-round privacy and also have a positive effect on the microclimate.

Design Tips:

Choose a sunny to partially shaded location for your natural garden partition from the neighbors. Although many evergreen plants can cope well in the shade, they thrive better in the sun. The soil should be well-drained and nutrient-rich.
The best time to plant evergreen hedges is either in spring (March to May) or fall (September to November). Avoid very hot summer days, as the plants can dry out more easily.
Be careful not to plant the hedge too close to the property line to avoid conflicts with neighbors. A distance of at least 50 cm to 1 m from the line is advisable, depending on the plant and its growth habit. Also, check local regulations beforehand.
The spacing between plants depends on the type of hedge. For fast-growing plants like Thuja, you should maintain a distance of about 40–60 cm. Slow-growing plants like yew require more space – approximately 80–100 cm.

Thuja hedges are one of the classic ways to separate a garden from neighbors. © ELEO

A lower-maintenance solution is a garden partition made of metal, wood, or plastic, which is higher than a traditional garden fence. Wood is particularly suitable for naturally designed gardens, while metal and plastic look great in modern and minimalist gardens.

Design Tips:

Aluminum and steel are particularly resistant to weathering and require little maintenance. Galvanized or powder-coated metals, in particular, are particularly durable and remain stable even in rain or snow – usually for years.
Plastic fences are usually somewhat cheaper to purchase. Make sure the material is high-quality and UV-resistant so the fence doesn't lose color and structure over time.
If you choose a wooden garden partition, use woods such as larch, Douglas fir, or cedar, which are naturally more weather-resistant. To protect the wood from the elements after installation, regular impregnation or varnishing is recommended. This preserves the color and protects the wood from moisture and pests.
Generally speaking, with a high garden partition, it is important to anchor the fence sufficiently securely. Make sure it is securely anchored in the ground and there is no danger of it toppling over in strong winds.

A combination of plants and high fence elements can be particularly visually appealing and optimize the garden separation from neighbors – for example, in winter, when some hedges are naturally a bit thinner. A suitable option is a hedge with a closed wooden or metal fence behind it.

Garden Partition to the Terrace or Seating Area

A clear demarcation between a seating area and the rest of the garden creates a pleasant, private atmosphere for gatherings with family and friends, as well as providing aesthetic structure.

A glass garden partition can create a particularly modern look. A classic option is a permanently installed glass wall built into a sturdy aluminum or stainless steel frame. This design has a timeless appearance and protects against wind without obstructing the light. Another option is to install freestanding glass panels at regular intervals.

Design Tips:

To achieve a higher level of privacy, you can use frosted glass, glass with a printed design, or glass with a special coating that blocks outside views while still allowing light to pass through.
A glass garden screen requires regular cleaning to maintain its transparency and aesthetic appeal. Be careful not to use harsh cleaning agents and check the glass regularly for scratches or cracks.

For a more natural look, create a plant screen around your patio or seating area: Bamboo grows quickly and creates a very dense, tall screen. It creates a modern, tropical atmosphere. Ornamental grasses are a more elegant alternative. They can also be used in planters or in combination with other plants. For more flexible boundaries or smaller terraces, plants in planters are ideal, as they can be moved more easily.

ELEO Garden Raised Bed Monterosso with Oleander

A planter with a lush oleander can serve as a natural partition for a seating area in the garden – providing privacy, too. © ELEO Garten, Monterosso raised bed next to Meran Pavilion.

To the raised beds from ELEO Garten

Design tips:

Be sure to choose plants suitable for your location, whether it's sunny, shaded, or partially shaded. Also consider the windiness of the location: otherwise, the plants may bend or break. In summer, many plants require regular watering.
The Fargesia variety is suitable for bamboo: It is non-invasive and grows quickly in dense, tall clumps. However, it is recommended to use a root barrier to prevent the bamboo from spreading uncontrollably in the garden.
As an ornamental grass, Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is recommended: It grows quickly and forms tall, fine stems for a beautiful, dynamic structure.
You can place oleander, for example, in a planter. With its vibrant flower colors, it provides an attractive, stylish partition. However, oleander is sensitive to frost and should therefore be moved indoors or to a frost-free winter quarters in winter.

A metal garden partition requires less maintenance and offers effective visual and noise protection in all seasons. Simple, modern metal fences made of steel or aluminum can create a clear and elegant boundary between the patio and garden. Alternatively, individual fence panels can be used as garden partitions. Metal fences and privacy panels are available in numerous colors and designs – as fully enclosed walls or with decorative cutouts. The latter offer a certain degree of protection from prying eyes while allowing light to pass through, making them appear more open and inviting.

Design Tips:

Ensure that the metal garden partition has a suitable coating that protects against corrosion. A powder coating or galvanization will ensure that the garden partition remains in good condition for many years.
The metal should harmonize well with the rest of the garden design: color and surface contribute significantly to the overall impression. A garden partition made of CorTen steel, for example, blends particularly well with natural materials such as wood or stone and is ideal for both natural-looking gardens and modern architecture.
The price of metal products can vary greatly depending on the material and design. Consider how much you're willing to spend and which features are most important to you (e.g., weather resistance, design, maintenance). In many cases, it's worth investing in higher-quality materials, as they require less maintenance and are more durable in the long run.

ELEO Express Taro privacy screen in front of a garden seating area

A metal garden screen protects against prying eyes and wind. Models are now available in numerous design variations. © ELEO Express, Taro privacy screen in front of Trento Pavilion