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How to Hide an Ugly Fence

briworthingtonbriworthington Posts: 18
in Problem solving
Can anyone suggest what we can use to hide the lower 4 feet or so of this horrible fence? It's only the side of a grassy area at the front of the house, so we just need something that's cheap and cheerful, evergreen and fast to spread along the line of the fence.


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Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    First off I'd paint the fence and all the concrete the same colour, black or dark grey. Not sure why you only want to hide the lower 4", but I'd suggest Cotoneaster franchetii, you can buy it bare root very cheaply at traditional nursery type garden centres. Can be clipped if you want to keep it at 4ft.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with @Loxley 😊 
    but you’ll have to prepare a proper bed there to plant in first. Then you’ll get decent growth. 

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





  • briworthingtonbriworthington Posts: 18
    Thanks both, and I like the idea of painting the backdrop! 4ft is a minimum really I guess. Looking online I see that plant costs about £4 and I'd need to plant at least 3 or 4 per metre. That may be cheap compared to many other plants, but could I just get some type of ornamental tall grass seeds or something, at say a total cost of £5 for a bag? Would the work involved then be along the lines of pressing the seeds into the ground? If that idea would work, what are the grass type options would you say?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Whatever you plant, seeds or plants, you need to invest some time and, possibly, money on improving the soil by forking it over, removing weeds and rubble and adding some soil improver such as well-rotted garden compost, manure or other soil conditioner.

    If you do go for seed it's best sown in small pots or trays of seed compost then grown on in bigger pots till it's big enough to cope with life out in the soil and open weather.

    If you own the garden, it's worth making the effort and the investment to do it right and also patient.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • briworthingtonbriworthington Posts: 18
    Good advice thanks. I think I prefer the seeds route because I'm not in a hurry and it's not much to lose if it they don't grow or something. I've never grown anything in my life, but it's never too late to start! What types of tall grass seed could I get to give covering all year round along the line of the fence?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Look at seed porn sites such as Chiltern Seeds, Plant World, Seedaholics.

    Look in the appropriate sections and read the descriptions to determine which one you fancy.   There are many forms available.

    Some are taller, some are more colourful in their leaves, some are mainly grown for their flower and seed heads which last into winter.

    Some, like pennisetum are not hardy so will need replacing every year.   Miscanthus is a good sturdy form.  Molinia is lighter in bulk and density.  Calamagrostis is a good one too.    There are many forms available.  Unless the blurb says they're evergreen, all will need cutting back low every spring which means exposing your fence again.  Evergreen forms will need an annual combing with a garden rake to remove dead foliage.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • briworthingtonbriworthington Posts: 18
    That's a great help thanks, and I like the idea of an annual comb - even easier than looking after what hair I've got left :D
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Seed porn sites? 🤤 @Obelixx
  • briworthingtonbriworthington Posts: 18
    Thanks everyone, but I went for something really cheap, cheerful and quick - 10 laurel plants for £4 each, half an hour for me to plant them  :D
      

     
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    As stated above it's all in the preparation.  Laurel is a thug but even they may struggle there.  I see no signs of soil improvement to add air and feed and houmous to help the roots establish nor weed clearing so they'll have competition from all those weeds and grass and likely go hungry and you'll be back asking why they haven't grown.

    If and when it does eventually grow big enough to hide your fence it will also be very wide and dark and heavy looking and if your trim it with shears it will look awful as the cut edges of its large leaves heal, dry and go brown.

    Can't help thinking you've missed an opportunity to do something really nice for not a lot of effort or money and that could have added interest, beauty and value to your garden.


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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