Ideas for some type of climber plse.

Hi "o wise ones" I would like some ideas pref climbers or if someone can think of something suitable to grow along and up this fence.""not any type of hedge"". Fence colour is cedar wood (red) I think white & purple flowers would should this off ? obviously evergreen.As if dies off will look bare which is what I want to avoid. I have two pampass grass in the front which I plan to keep. Poss.. each end of that fence. Was thinking of climber and poss something in front of that making it two levels. Would appreciate any ideas, colour types. When the front is finished will be 3/4 slab so I can turn around. So keeping in mind the two ends of the fence will have the most space for planting(large corners). So my starting point is this fence.If at a later stage needs a trellis then one will be added.To the left of the fence more fence will carry on but its on cement. Over to you wise ones

 

Hard to suggest specific plants without knowing more. Is the garden this side being laid to lawn? If so I'd say look for colour and try to find a general colour scheme punctuated here and there for contrast. I think I'd put something tallish in front of the blue plant around mid-way but without visually cutting the fence in half- I suggest that in order to hide the road and lamp-post behind. I wouldn't say you need all evergreen, it's good to see the changing seasons, but I would look for well structured plants which will give a green skeleton.

 

Well, I'm certainly not wise ! This is only a personal viewpoint, but I am always wary about putting climbers directly onto wooden fences. Experience in the past has taught me, the eventual weight of a full grown climber can lead to that side of the fence sagging, leaning, especially if wind has a play. Are the posts wooden too ? Others might suggest a way of avoiding this. You have aleady thought of a trellis which might help if it too has its own supporting posts which are free of the fence. But then, another problem I have found, with the fence being wood, and you want an evergreen, painting, maintaining the wood will become difficult. Other than that, climbing roses can be pruned and lightened to keep the weight down. I'm sure others will suggest other plants.
gazania

 

Winter flowering jasmines are evergreen but their flowers are yellow. Passion flower maybe but i dont think they are evergreen

 

hi westwales no lawn as we took it out to make a turn around/reverse section at the front (having problems getting in and out.On the rd side along the wall will be various hedging which half of that is already planted. I used the idea as a climber as astarting point suggestion. As at this point not sure what to put on it. But I would prefer something low maintenance within reason that is. Cutting back keeping in shape is what I class normal up keep, but wont have the time to replace plants all year round.3/4 of that soil with be slabbed at the moment we are putting fencing up around the boundary.

 

Hi Gazania climbers was just an idea I could look at a row of plants but do not want a hedge which a few of my friends have suggested. Not sure what would like to try find poss something or two types of plants with white and purpleflowers if poss.cutting back and keeping any type under control not a problem.

 

Hi kels,

You don't say how high the fence is but why not consider an Abutilon?

I have a variegated leaf one growing up a trellis next to my front door but i get the impression the variegated ones are a little difficult to come by these days as there were none on the Abutilon specialists stand at Hampton Court and i've not seen any in local nurseries or garden centres lately either.

They are lovely though and most grow to about 2m high, are evergreen and have long flowering periods. They're not slow growers but they're not vigorous either, so you wont need to get up in the middle of the night to shut the bedroom window to stop them getting in despite pruning them that afternoon.

If like me you like something a bit different to the Clematis norm, or you just want something unusual, then one of these could be for you. There are lots of varieties available and i'd definitely have more of them in my garden if it were bigger.

The pic below is the same flower as mine, just without the variegated leaves.



The variegated leaf i have is in the pic below, just not the same flower.

 

Its about 5 foot high Scorpio :WINK1:

 

I dont think this is ever green but as a splash to grow with your scheme of colour in june,july,aug i can recommend a sieboldii florida clematis,lots of flowers and very pretty,here is mine and im impressed with its display,ive had lots of flowers up to now and its not been planted long

 

Hi scorpio1968 The fence is 4 foot from the ground. We are looking for something a little different and will have to work a bit with some of the soil as well as its a clay mix. But after digging up the grass( its all at the back ) the soil is not as bad as I thought it was. But will need some good soil added to it before we start. I for some reason cant see your pic :(

 

No, nor can i

 

That's odd. I have the pics on my pc and mobile, just thumbnails without logging in though.

You should be able to see them in my Dropbox here and here.

 

Scorpio, I see you are in Kent. How hardy do you think the abutilons are? I'm very taken with your pictures but wonder if they would survive up here.

 

Well i'm no expert but i think there are varying levels of hardiness. I have a 2 inch layer of Mini Bark Chips which helps. If the Winter is too cold for them, i think they only lose their leaves but come back again when it warms up, ie Semi-Evergreen, but mine has been in the ground for the past 2 Winters and doing fine. It's also up against the front of the house so that probably helps too, plus a Bamboo and Smoke Bush Standard offer a level of protection from biting winds and there's plenty of drainage to stop it's feet keeping wet in the Winter which is what kills a lot of plants, such as Hostas, rather than the cold weather itself. I'll do a pic of my one tonight and post it up.

 

Here you go kels