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Climbers for narrow space

MartineBMartineB Posts: 68
in Plants
Hello gardeners
We have a 1.80m high fence right outside our kitchen window. The 80cm wide space between kitchen window and fence has been tiled leaving 4 squares (30cm x 30cm) open for planting climbers we could admire through the seasons. We have tried various things but are not very happy yet. At the moment we have 2 clematis, a winter jasmine. The winter jasmine is not doing very well. We tried a honeysuckle without success. 
There is not much light or sun as we have a big 2 storey building next door. Any ideas gratefully received

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    30cm x 30cm is a very small planting area. At the very least was a larger area of soil improved in any way prior to the tiling to make a congenial home for the plant roots before the tiles were laid?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MartineBMartineB Posts: 68
    Thank you Dovefromabove. Yes 30x30cm is small and no nothing was done prior to the tiling. We are not very experienced; just keen! Shall I be looking for plants that grow well in small pots
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is there any way you can dig out the area you have got, so that it could be improved?
    That way, anything you plant will have a chance of thriving. There are clematis which would be ok if they have enough sustenance down below. You could also add an edging of some kind round the area, which will then raise the soil level. Brick, rocks, timber etc. 
    The only thing right now that would be ok, would be one of the variegated ivies. They'll cope with most things, although they'd still need to be kept watered etc.
    If you have a photo, that would also help with ideas and advice.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • MartineBMartineB Posts: 68
    thank you Diana1 . I like your idea of standing a pot in the empty square
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think that's a good idea Diana, and it's why I asked Martine if she had a photo. I have wall troughs an dbaskets on my back fence, which also has various planting on it, to create  a 'green wall'. It's in shade for  most of the day. I have heucheras, hellebores and bulbs and all sorts of things in them. A combination of a big/tall statement pot with something nice in it, and something on the fence above might be the way to go  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're more than happy in shade Diana.  :)
    Some of them behave like climbers too, if up against a wall or fence, so that could be a very good choice. Emerald Gaiety is one of them. It's readily available almost anywhere.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    That sounds like Euonymus fortunei - I have one like that, green and white, that grows on a chilly North facing corner with no sun. It is growing over compacted gravel, but I had a concrete manhole liner going spare, so I put that in position and filled it with soil, like a mini raised bed. They will happily lean up a wall or fence; mine was covering a trellis at the end of the oil tank. The trellis is currently in a state of collapse, blown down in a storm, but the plant is fine :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's the one B'cupdays - I should have made that more clear that it was  fortunei E. Gaiety. Very useful for a difficult spot.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • MartineBMartineB Posts: 68
    Thank you everybody. A Euonymus in a pot sounds like a good idea.  I even happen to have one already. 
  • MartineBMartineB Posts: 68
    You are all very knowledgeable and very kind. This forum is fantastic 
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