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How to disguise ugly garage quickly
ellefionamacleod14771
Posts: 6
in Plants
I’m looking for some plant recommendations which will help blur our garage a bit more.
There is a climbing hydrangea already in there which I planted late last summer, hidden behind the Fatisa. I’ve heard climbing hydrangeas are very slow-growing for the first few seasons, so I’m looking for something we could plant that will make it pop in time for summer.
Any other tips/recommendations are welcome - thank you! Also attached is a before pic of when we moved in in January.. Lots of slate and all the fake grass 🫠
There is a climbing hydrangea already in there which I planted late last summer, hidden behind the Fatisa. I’ve heard climbing hydrangeas are very slow-growing for the first few seasons, so I’m looking for something we could plant that will make it pop in time for summer.
Any other tips/recommendations are welcome - thank you! Also attached is a before pic of when we moved in in January.. Lots of slate and all the fake grass 🫠
2
Posts
You could grow some Sweet peas or other annual climbers like Thunbergia alata.
You might like to dig and feed a little border there. Sorry is a shame as you have lovely grass growing there now. It looks so good compared to how it was.
Or do you think a pot or two with things in temporarily until the hydrangea takes off?
Either way you will need a little border, half circles of grass cleared? to plant into or little area /clearing of grass for a pot or two or something to stand them on.
A clematis or two in pots with some kind of support. Although these will need a year or two also to get a good result unless you buy big plants.
A favourite of mine is Madame Julia Correvon, (red with twisty wobbly petals but I kind of find appealing) very commonly available, is very easy and fast growing. Another good old one is also Etoile Violette.
Both would look pretty in the future if you get any flowers along with the white of the hydrangea.
Though I think if you are wanting a fast "summery" option aforementioned annual climbers .
Although I said Sweet peas are nice, but need a good root run or feed and watering in a large pot.
There are other climbing annuals you could use like ipomoea.
Edited to add. You have the manger thingys on the wall, you could plant them with trailing plants or "climbers" that hang down.
There are some lovely trailing petunias around these days.
The garage wall in question is North East facing, mostly shaded. We’re based in West Yorkshire so the weathers very seasonal.
I am considering some climbers but I'm worried they won't thrive given there's not much sun. Is there any you'd recommend?
Also, any tips on where to plant them? I know clematis like their feet in the shade so would behind the Fatisa work?
@Rubytoo has some good ideas.
Did you want to create a limited colour palette of creams, greens and maybe something else?
There is a climbing hydrangea that works in shade.
Will you be keeping any of the lawn?
Also, some of the honeysuckles?
Sorry should have waited for you to say about conditions. But Madame J C and E V will do okay in that position. They are later flowering clematis, but some older stems left at a little longer at the base will flower earlier. If you leave some and cut some you get a wider flowering period.
Hagley hybrid is a lovely older classic pink clem that looks good and does not mind shade too.
You need to pay attention to pruning times and requirements choosing permanent companions.
But if you experiment a bit, you can have a nice mix of more permanent planting long term that you don't have to work hard on.
I would go for some sparky climbing annuals still for now until you get to grips with what your hydrangea is going to do.
We have one and I love it, it was a gift, but we do not have the space/walls for it that it deserves. They get big.
On clay soil multipurpose compost is okay as a soil improver if you can buy it cheaply, but anything you can get, leaves, if you are buying multi then garden centres often have manure based soil improvers in big bags that are better, as such.
Use whatever you can get hold of, straw based stable manure or well rotted sawdust and horse poop is okay too.
Mushroom compost used to be a thing , cheap and delivered, locally if you can still get it. Great for improving clay too.
My MIL was Yorkshire based garden, but had a sandy soil. The plants she gave me with her compost added was like a good John Innes soil! To die for....
Trailing plants are a good shout I didn’t think of that for a temporary solution.
I think given the garage roof is a burnt red I’d want a flowering plant to be complimentary and not clash too much.
I had considered honeysuckle but my next door neighbours quite old and the scent gives her migraines, so I’ve vetoed that!
Thorncroft is a good company to try, in case you wanted to be tempted by their wares!
Good luck , you’ve made a tremendous difference already.🙂