It looks like you couldn't put coping stones on top of that wall without taking the fencing down and I'm not sure that would solve the question anyway. We have coping stones on a low wall and still get water/algae staining on the north side. Paint would be comparatively cheap and quick to do so I would do that first and see what happens. Obelixx's advice to then widen the bed and plant taller plants is much the best idea.
It depends entirely whether potandgrow wishes to solve the problem, as the title implies, or disguise the problem. Proper coping stones, with drip groove, as wildedges recommends, will reduce the unsightly dripping, but more importantly, prevent water ingress, which can then freeze behind the render in winter. This causes the render to detach from the substrate, bulge and ultimately blow - break off. This does require the fence on top to be temporarily removed and refitted on top of the coping stones. Without this it will require constant repainting. If it blows, planting in front of it would make remedial action difficult. If it were my wall, I would resolve the underlying issue, then paint it grey and then plant in front of it!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
The fence is painted in Wild Thyme from the Cuprinol Garden Shades so more green than grey. Painting the wall in this colour will presumably not have the same effect as if I painted it grey or black but then that is likely to mean having to repaint whole fence again as the green of the fence may look odd with grey /black wall.
The borders are 0.5m which I now appreciate is too narrow for the plants there but I do want to try to maintain a decent lawn in this small garden for the kids to run about (my youngest has already discovered the joy of beheading my tulips!).
I've attached an aerial view which shows a bit more of what I'm working with.
I suppose I am at the stage where I'm aiming to hide it as the cost of trying to fix the issue is likely to be too prohibitive in what is unlikely to be our forever home.
Looks like a combo then of darker wall paint (make staining less noticeable) and widening the border to allow for healthier and taller plants.
Would 1m be workable? I also intend to create a curve in the corner but the red robin to give a bit more planting room.
It would be easier to just paint the wall the same colour as your fence in that case. I see what you mean about leaving enough space for the children so one solution would be to paint the wall, fix trellis all along or even same kind of fencing if budget allows) then grow several clematis along it in between your existing plants (moving them if necessary). Growing vertically in this way gives you more interest and keeps the flowers away from the children (until they grow of course and discover ball games!).
If the budget's tight, just paint the wall and think about maybe 2 or 3 taller grasses in the bed.
Have you considered bunging a trellis along the whole width of the white wall, then growing climbers up it, so the entire thing right uo to the top of the fence is covered? Trachelospermum jasminoides is evergreen and has beautifully scented white flowers all summer long. Or an armandii clematis that is also evergreen and flowers in Feb/March on one side, for some interest earlier in the year.
Can't believe it was April when this was added to the to do list. Anyway, I thought I would update the thread as I've finally got it painted today. Went for the same colour as the fence and pretty happy with it. Far better than it was anyway. Frustratingly the forecast proved wrong and it started pouring this evening so didn't get the second coat done so may need to start again; we'll see how it goes.
Now to add a bit of height and colour!
I was thinking a second red robin at the far end beside the kids' slide and perhaps two trellis either side of the hebe? The lavender and probably the ferns will be moved.
I'd just hide it with plants - the weather will soon discolour it! I suggest ceanothus as an evergreen, choisya as mentioned already, cotoneaster.....and some tall perennials, hollyhocks, foxgloves, delphiniums, lupins....
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The fence is painted in Wild Thyme from the Cuprinol Garden Shades so more green than grey. Painting the wall in this colour will presumably not have the same effect as if I painted it grey or black but then that is likely to mean having to repaint whole fence again as the green of the fence may look odd with grey /black wall.
The borders are 0.5m which I now appreciate is too narrow for the plants there but I do want to try to maintain a decent lawn in this small garden for the kids to run about (my youngest has already discovered the joy of beheading my tulips!).
I've attached an aerial view which shows a bit more of what I'm working with.
I suppose I am at the stage where I'm aiming to hide it as the cost of trying to fix the issue is likely to be too prohibitive in what is unlikely to be our forever home.
Looks like a combo then of darker wall paint (make staining less noticeable) and widening the border to allow for healthier and taller plants.
Would 1m be workable? I also intend to create a curve in the corner but the red robin to give a bit more planting room.
Thanks again
If the budget's tight, just paint the wall and think about maybe 2 or 3 taller grasses in the bed.
Trachelospermum jasminoides is evergreen and has beautifully scented white flowers all summer long. Or an armandii clematis that is also evergreen and flowers in Feb/March on one side, for some interest earlier in the year.
Frustratingly the forecast proved wrong and it started pouring this evening so didn't get the second coat done so may need to start again; we'll see how it goes.
Now to add a bit of height and colour!
I was thinking a second red robin at the far end beside the kids' slide and perhaps two trellis either side of the hebe? The lavender and probably the ferns will be moved.