So this is the before picture - just using it to illustrate the long victorian brick wall on the left hand side - this is why I haven't thought about painting the fence on the right as I'm assuming it'll be covered in plants in due course anyway and the (horrible) orange colour sort of matches the brick wall. Is the consensus still to paint the orange fence? If we did then dark green or black I guess....
Still can't quite narrow down what I'm after though I'm hedging (pun intended) towards c. alpina chinese honeysuckle star jasmine and ughh... the impulsive me still wants a climbing hydrangea but practical says it's not going to be suitable.
You peeps.. such great responses thus far, thank you!
I’d just paint the green fence at the bottom and leave the other one to mellow. You’re right, the new fence does complement the brick wall and will soon be laden with climbers! You can try editing your photo and applying another colour to the fence at the bottom. If you choose a dark colour, your garden will look longer.
Rather than a series of climbers along your fence, have you considered also using a selection of shade tolerant evergreen shrubs that can be kept quite tightly pruned to avoid imposing on your garden but shielding the fence?
I had a similar problem when I moved here, with a rather unattractive mix of fencing of different styles, ages and colours on the north facing side of my garden. The area gets less than 2 hours of morning sun and is overshadowed by my neighbour’s huge laurel hedge which is also double planted with conifers!
This is what I have done, using a narrow hedge of Griselinia, ivy on a half obelisk, Hydrangea Limelight, a couple of variegated Phormiums and a honeysuckle. There was a rowan there already and I have also added another Sorbus, an Arbutus unedo and a clumping bamboo, Fargesia nitida, further along to the right. I have raised the crowns of both the trees to allow more light into the border. All the plants have fared well, despite the lack of full sun and the competition from my neighbour’s hedging. Plus I have sandy, free draining soil!
Rather than a series of climbers along your fence, have you considered also using a selection of shade tolerant evergreen shrubs that can be kept quite tightly pruned to avoid imposing on your garden but shielding the fence?
I had a similar problem when I moved here, with a rather unattractive mix of fencing of different styles, ages and colours on the north facing side of my garden. The area gets less than 2 hours of morning sun and is overshadowed by my neighbour’s huge laurel hedge which is also double planted with conifers!
This is what I have done, using a narrow hedge of Griselinia, ivy on a half obelisk, Hydrangea Limelight, a couple of variegated Phormiums and a honeysuckle. There was a rowan there already and I have also added another Sorbus, an Arbutus unedo and a clumping bamboo, Fargesia nitida, further along to the right. I have raised the crowns of both the trees to allow more light into the border. All the plants have fared well, despite the lack of full sun and the competition from my neighbour’s hedging. Plus I have sandy, free draining soil!
Yes, I have considered shrubs... so here we go, any recommendations please ? (I do have gardening books.. but always think recommendations are very useful!).
I'm thinking of putting in a couple of trees, possibly a cornus and sorbus and then interfilling with shrubs, perennials etc. so definitely shrubs at the back of the border is most certainly an option.
@stephroberts_morgan No need to quote a member's previous post when you are replying to it immediately afterwards. @Plantminded That's a lovely hedge/border!
The shade tolerant shrubs I mentioned in my previous note are worth considering @stephroberts_morgan. They will add a bit more interest to your border, particularly over winter.
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Here it is today
Oops! should have been "panting dogs", not "painting dogs".
Still can't quite narrow down what I'm after though I'm hedging (pun intended) towards c. alpina
chinese honeysuckle
star jasmine
and ughh... the impulsive me still wants a climbing hydrangea but practical says it's not going to be suitable.
You peeps.. such great responses thus far, thank you!
I had a similar problem when I moved here, with a rather unattractive mix of fencing of different styles, ages and colours on the north facing side of my garden. The area gets less than 2 hours of morning sun and is overshadowed by my neighbour’s huge laurel hedge which is also double planted with conifers!
This is what I have done, using a narrow hedge of Griselinia, ivy on a half obelisk, Hydrangea Limelight, a couple of variegated Phormiums and a honeysuckle. There was a rowan there already and I have also added another Sorbus, an Arbutus unedo and a clumping bamboo, Fargesia nitida, further along to the right. I have raised the crowns of both the trees to allow more light into the border. All the plants have fared well, despite the lack of full sun and the competition from my neighbour’s hedging. Plus I have sandy, free draining soil!
I'm thinking of putting in a couple of trees, possibly a cornus and sorbus and then interfilling with shrubs, perennials etc. so definitely shrubs at the back of the border is most certainly an option.
No need to quote a member's previous post when you are replying to it immediately afterwards.
@Plantminded That's a lovely hedge/border!