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Free standing shrubs you grow against a fence
nickoslesteros
Posts: 178
in Plants
Hello! I need something to give my border some height. Looking for some ideas for shrubs which can maybe grow higher than the fence and maybe spread wide, but not steal too much depth from my border (if that makes any sense at all)? The fence is rather ugly and I'd like to cover it as much as I can!
Have some young roses growing in the front of the border from bare root planted last autumn.
Be great to hear some suggestions if anyone has any
Have some young roses growing in the front of the border from bare root planted last autumn.
Be great to hear some suggestions if anyone has any
0
Posts
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
All these are factors in offering suggestions. Some shrubs are very adapatable, but many are fussier
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
SW facing fence, NW England, (on coast with fairly mild winters), sandy slightly acidic soil
Thank you!
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
The ornamental quinces would be fine - Chaenomeles, and there are various colourways from whites and creams through to oranges and reds. They're good as wall shrubs, so they'd also be fine for a fence, and will be free standing. There's one in a narrow border quite near me, and I've been considering one for a border of mine. They flower in spring, and then you'd get fruits later. The only disadvantage is that they're jaggy, but if you have roses, I'm guessing that won't bother you!
I've had Cytisus [Broom] in very similar sites/aspects. Again, lots of types and colourways, but mainly the yellow and red spectrum. They will become more spreading in all directions, but they can also be lightly trimmed, so you should be able to shape them to suit the space. They can get quite top heavy, and can then get uprooted, so it could be worth staking it. I lost my lovely white one in a rough period in spring a few years ago. The stems/branches stay green, which could be useful.
Ceanothus might be ok - if you like the colour [I don't!]. I don't think they mind type of soil, but they do like a sunnier, free draining site, so that would work. Just check that they don't need alkaline soil or something, although I did have one in a previous garden which was fine, and there's quite a few around here. We have heavy clay here, neutral to slightly acidic, so that's certainly ok.
I don't know if Philadelphus would work, but it's worth investigating. Again, I've had one in a similar site, raised bed, which drains well, and there's an early clematis in with it, and they're both very happy. They're mostly used in shadier spots, but that one is in one of the sunniest bits of my garden. I don't think they're overly fussy.
That gives you a few to look at, and there's bound to be some summer flowering types - those are all spring to early summer flowering.
I'd have thought you'd have some climbers there, but if the fence isn't yours, that's a problem.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diablo' is an attractive deciduous upright shrub with purpleish leaves and pink flowers.
Potentilla 'Abbotsford' is a small deciduous shrub with small white flowers.