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What plant here to hide the ugly gravel boards?

gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
in Garden design
I have a quandary! I have very ugly old cement gravel boards that I can't afford to replace and I want to hide them as much as possible (throughout the year). I have planted a Honeysuckle on the left of this photo to hide the manky fence - which is growing nicely - but only has growth from the top of the gravel board upwards!

The tricky bit is the location of the crab apple tree, which means I'm a bit limited for space in terms of a shrub. It needs to be something evergreen and something that will have growth low down. At the moment there is just some Agrostemma seedlings there, the green shrub on the right at the back was a cutting from someone else and will be thrown away, as I'm not keen on it :)  The site is hot - south facing with nutrient rich but dry/free draining soil. I've Googled till the cows come home but can't think of anything appropriate!



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  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Paint them black and they won't show so much 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) or Vinca major would fill the space and "lean" against the gravel board, but they're both rampant thugs so will try to make a bid to fill the front of the border as well.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    You could try a low growing prostrate rose or two . They spread out but only grow about 10 or so inches high .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited May 2023
    If the soil and site is hot and sunny, and free draining, the honeysuckle isn't likely to be happy for long.
    Euphorbias [the evergreen ones] , Hebes and Salvias will all hide the boards. Which salvia will depend on location and climate, but the caradonna one is hardy pretty much everywhere in the uk - it's the only reliably hardy one. 
    I'd paint the boards first too - to match the fence.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BluejaywayBluejayway Posts: 392
    Definitely paint them, would look smart
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    Hi all - just wanted to say thank you very much for your feedback. I took everyone's advice and painted them and think it looks much better. I've had to leave the posts because they're too high for the fence panels at the top and it would look strange, but I'm hoping to eventually be able to hide these posts with all the climbers I grow (and then maybe paint them!). I'm still really pleased with it and think it looks much better!




  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
    That looks much better, well done !
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    Agreed - that looks a hundred times better🙂

    If you're still after planting ideas I'm sure there are some hardy geraniums that would fit the bill. Or maybe a perennial wall flower. The mauve one would work with your colour scheme. Or Anthemis Tinctoria 'Sauce Hollandaise' - very pale creamy yellow.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Looks great!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BluejaywayBluejayway Posts: 392
    I think I’d paint the posts and stop when level with the top of the panels.  Maybe.
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