I don't think the slatted panels will be painted @Simone_in_Wiltshire - they're cedar and are usually left as they are. Most climbers aren't planted and left to cling to fences either - they're on trellis or wires, because they need something to wind round. Ivy is slightly different, but even so, a good quality fence will last for decades. It's also not that difficult to paint around planting. Spring is ideal before many plants green up, and then they cover any bits that are iffy. Dark colours are always better for timber so that boundaries disappear more readily. Black and dark green are best. I mix some black into the green for the front garden as the greens are usually too bright
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Simone_in_Wiltshire Thanks for your thoughts. I totally understand where you’re coming from. Whatever we choose will need ongoing attention to keep it that way. It’s just working out the best thing.
We could get softwood (rather than cedar) battens interspersed with the existing fencing, and paint them all.
If we did paint though, we’d want to make sure it’s ok with the neighbours and it won’t run through to the other side. It’s this that we’re kind of unsure of.
In our old house, there was some really old similar type fencing that was stained but really patchy. We treated it with preservative and then decking oil and it came up really well and didn’t get too much algae for 5 years or so. But we’re kind of wanting something different in our new garden.
@Fairygirl Thanks, that’s interesting. So basically we can strategically place the wiring so that the climbers aren’t in too much contact with the fence? We wouldn’t go for ivy at all after our last experience as that really clinged on to the wood itself and left marks when we did prune it back a bit.
In your experience, did the dark colours go through to the other side at all?
@zugenie Thanks, your garden looks fab! That’s good to know that the colour mellows quite quick - it does look nice like that. I’m just wondering with ours, how long it will need before it needs either oiling or painting….we don’t mind if it weathers naturally and do quite like that look. For us, I guess it’s if the parts in contact with our lawn (which at the moment is pretty boggy), will start to need some extra treatment before it starts going a bit rotten being in touch with the ground. If we did something now at the outset, at least it might potentially save us need to do it again for a bit longer.
All my fences are double sided to counteract the wind @AutumnRain. The only one that isn't is the ones that back onto my parking/drive so it doesn't affect anyone
You would actively need space between the climbers and any hard surface to allow good airflow. Very important. Even with trellis, where there's a natural space caused by the battens, it can be beneficial to add a couple of battens to give more space, although that's more important for walls. Fences tend to have a better airflow, if they're the kind I have, but it's worth doing that with the solid type you have there
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@zugenie Thanks, your garden looks fab! That’s good to know that the colour mellows quite quick - it does look nice like that. I’m just wondering with ours, how long it will need before it needs either oiling or painting….we don’t mind if it weathers naturally and do quite like that look. For us, I guess it’s if the parts in contact with our lawn (which at the moment is pretty boggy), will start to need some extra treatment before it starts going a bit rotten being in touch with the ground. If we did something now at the outset, at least it might potentially save us need to do it again for a bit longer.
My old neighbour used an osmo clear sealer for the bottom of her fence where it was going to be by a raised bed, I wanted a clear sealer as I loved the natural wood colour but I couldn’t find anything that wasn’t really expensive.
edit// to add we never painted or oiled ours in anyway in 4 years a d it still looked great
I'd follow @zugenie 's approach. Your fence will mellow and look more natural as it ages. I only painted my fence because there were four different installations of varying age and fading colour. Painting them takes time and effort, you often need at least 2 coats and they need re-doing every 3 or 5 years depending on the stain or paint you choose. Most of my fence is now hidden behind evergreen shrubs and trees and the garden looks bigger because it blends in with my neighbours' gardens. I would also consider re-shaping your lawn into a circle as @GardenerSuze suggested - it will create more generous borders for you to fill with plants. How about considering contemporary style obelisks in your borders to grow climbers - they create a feature and the plants won't struggle in the rain shadowing effect of a fence.
If you look in the garden design forum under a sunny low maintenance garden you will see my upside down garden! This is a similar idea but on a small scale. Nothing on the fence which is the third in 30 years. The latest fence is pressure treated and we were told not to treat but leave it to mellow.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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Most climbers aren't planted and left to cling to fences either - they're on trellis or wires, because they need something to wind round. Ivy is slightly different, but even so, a good quality fence will last for decades.
It's also not that difficult to paint around planting. Spring is ideal before many plants green up, and then they cover any bits that are iffy. Dark colours are always better for timber so that boundaries disappear more readily. Black and dark green are best. I mix some black into the green for the front garden as the greens are usually too bright
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for your thoughts. I totally understand where you’re coming from. Whatever we choose will need ongoing attention to keep it that way. It’s just working out the best thing.
We could get softwood (rather than cedar) battens interspersed with the existing fencing, and paint them all.
You would actively need space between the climbers and any hard surface to allow good airflow. Very important. Even with trellis, where there's a natural space caused by the battens, it can be beneficial to add a couple of battens to give more space, although that's more important for walls. Fences tend to have a better airflow, if they're the kind I have, but it's worth doing that with the solid type you have there
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
edit// to add we never painted or oiled ours in anyway in 4 years a d it still looked great