The slabs in the middle will be getting removed on Friday anyway and I'll be sowing some grass seed there.
Regarding a climber for the corner, would common English Ivy be fine right in the corner behind the viburnum? Thinking a nice evergreen screen would be an idea and it removes the need for a trellis or training.
An Ivy would be fine, but you will need to keep an eye on it. Like the Euonymus Fortunei (but smaller in growth and size). The base will wander around your bed, and that may need pruning back over the years. Both Ivy and Euonymus Fortunei will cling to the wall without issue.
For your back area, a large container to grow climbers will also work. Your new future border that runs across the end of your lawn would look good if you have it more deeper than your right border. Look into putting some shrubs to divide up the back and the lawn. Doesn't need to be a solid barrier, a shrub that may be deciduous or has a loose multi-stemmed habit would work too.
This ivy talk is making think of putting it down the left hand wall too, this is North facing so would be ideal.
Only thing with that is the stones there do have a plastic sheet under them so thought about having a few trough-style containers along there instead. Can ivy spread quite a bit still without having to have large containers? i.e. something narrow enough to be clear of the paving slabs.
Why don’t you just plant something in that far right corner and let it climb into that wall. Campanula Poscharskyana
Bit of a thug in my experience. You could soon have a whole garden full of it. I spent years never quite managing to get rid of it in our previous garden. And we've got the ruddy stuff in our new garden. It does soften the walls mind you, if only it didn't spread so easily ...
Yes it does spread DampGardenMan, but a nice and easy plant. I can picture it growing into that gravel in time. Not for everyone I suppose, just felt that back bit needs nice and easy plants to fill the wall and gravel. Campanula Portenschlagiana with a more punchier purple will also do the same. I'm trying to think of plants that don't have too much of a woody base that can cover the grey wall.
You can plant the first plant in that corner border or from a pot and as DampGardenMan states, it will get about naturally into other areas, like your gravel, even with nothing underneath. Any dust that collects, it may grow when it suits.
I recommend Ivy planted in the ground instead of a pot/container, they will establish better. The other alternative to Ivy is Euonymus Fortunei, and there are many interesting types that is more suitable for your wall size, and easily pruned out if they out-grow their space. Example, take a look at 'Wolong Ghost'.
Dirty Harry, I was explaining how easy it is to grow Campanula Poscharskyana and Portenschlagiana. It can spread and seed into your gravel area even if you have a weed membrane or even hard surface underneath that area.
Over time, dust and soil from surrounding areas collects into your gravel area, this makes a good base for plants like this and other plants like Erigeron Karvinskianus, Linaria Purpurea and even Centranthus Ruber. All these plants are easy plants and easily removed when you don't need them. Would make a nice display of colour on top of any pots you add in that area.
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Regarding a climber for the corner, would common English Ivy be fine right in the corner behind the viburnum? Thinking a nice evergreen screen would be an idea and it removes the need for a trellis or training.
For your back area, a large container to grow climbers will also work. Your new future border that runs across the end of your lawn would look good if you have it more deeper than your right border. Look into putting some shrubs to divide up the back and the lawn. Doesn't need to be a solid barrier, a shrub that may be deciduous or has a loose multi-stemmed habit would work too.
Only thing with that is the stones there do have a plastic sheet under them so thought about having a few trough-style containers along there instead. Can ivy spread quite a bit still without having to have large containers? i.e. something narrow enough to be clear of the paving slabs.
The stones have an underlying plastic sheet hence my desire for them.
I recommend Ivy planted in the ground instead of a pot/container, they will establish better. The other alternative to Ivy is Euonymus Fortunei, and there are many interesting types that is more suitable for your wall size, and easily pruned out if they out-grow their space. Example, take a look at 'Wolong Ghost'.
Might be misunderstanding you here but that makes no sense to me...
Over time, dust and soil from surrounding areas collects into your gravel area, this makes a good base for plants like this and other plants like Erigeron Karvinskianus, Linaria Purpurea and even Centranthus Ruber. All these plants are easy plants and easily removed when you don't need them. Would make a nice display of colour on top of any pots you add in that area.