B&Q's hedge bed will give your garden privacy and style

If I wanted to give a garden privacy this summer, I’d use a hedge bed like B&Q’s Bopha Rectangular Wood Trough (£54) to add instant height and structure to my borders.

There are plenty of garden screening ideas to help zone your space and gain privacy from nosy neighbours, and one of the easiest (and most natural ways) is by making the most of your plants, in particular hedges.

Having spotted B&Q’s hedge beds on a recent trip to the store, I saw first-hand how handy these troughs are for crafting your own garden privacy ideas, they can also become a haven for wildlife too.

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Verve Bopha Rectangular Wood Trough 110l (w)80cm

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The Bopha Rectangular Wood Trough has a capacity of 110L and is ideal for growing edibles and flowers in your garden. Standing at 35cm, they create height and structure to your garden borders and patios.

Many flowers, such as some geraniums, dwarf zinnias and crocuses, don’t reach great heights, so container planting is an excellent way to ensure your eye is drawn to them, whilst adding extra height and structure to the space.

Now, this won’t exactly offer loads of privacy, but you can also add taller-growing plants to the trough thanks to its 40cm depth, such as agapanthus, delphiniums and verbena, which offer privacy through their height, as well as stunning bursts of colour.

The trough itself has drainage holes in the base, which allow excess water to drain away, preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged, although container plants do benefit from being watered more in a heatwave. You will, however, need to apply a suitable oil finish (such as the Osmo Garden Furniture Oil, £30.62, Amazon) periodically to maintain the trough’s colour and weather resistance.

Wood trough planter in B&Q Cheltenham store.

I first saw the trough in store. It’s incredibly sturdy and stylish in person.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Kezia Reynolds)

As well as adding extra height to your garden, the trough can also be used to carve out zones in your garden. This easy garden layout idea really couldn’t be any simpler. Simply arrange your troughs to create zones, such as a seating area or BBQ space. Think of them as flowering screens.

These planters are also great for supporting local birds. Once blooming, the trough offers a sheltered spot off the ground that birds can take respite in.

‘I recently purchased the Verve Bopha 110L trough, and I’m very impressed. At 80cm wide, it provides plenty of space for a variety of plants. The build quality feels very durable; the wood is thick and feels like it will hold up well against the elements. Aesthetically, the brown finish is lovely-it has a natural, premium look that fits perfectly in my garden. Overall, a high-quality item that feels like it’s built to last,’ says one review.

‘Really pleased with the planters, they are solidly built and sturdy and just the right size to fit perfectly on the patio. The stained wood is attractive and blends well with the perennial flowers I’ve planted in it to give that extra bit of colour in winter,’ says another.