In article ,
scott wrote:

I know it would be impossible to plant anything that will successfully
screen out a second storey

The suggestion I have seen is to screen where you need screening. So if you
can sit on your porch and see a big window, just plant something between you
and the window The height of the plant you need will be less than the height
of a second-storey window. Obscured windows aren't worth worrying about, of
course.

(although I was thinking of maybe planting
some pittosporum along the fence to provide some privacy).

Thought it was considered weedy in your state?

Check that the spread of the pittosporum is what you want. Last week I was at
a family gathering. Seven of us sat at a table under the canopy of a mature
pittosporum, and we were all in shade -- I estimate a spread of 6-8m for that
one. Something more columnar might be better.

Try to solve more than one problem with this planting, too. Is your garden
dull at a particular time of year? What suits your style? What would look
restful or beautiful?

My main problem is that I have an open deck that accesses to my garden,
which now looks straight into their garage. I was thinking of using a
trellis and growing some climbing plants to hide next door's plain
unpainted rendered garage wall.

I presume it's grey cement? On this neutral background something with dark
leaves would look good. Match the trellis materials to your deck materials.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Jeez; if only those Ancient Greek storytellers had known about the astonishing
creature that is the *Usenet hydra*: you cut off one head, and *a stupider one*
grows back..." -- MJ, cam.misc