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Bare wall ideas
Overgrowth
Posts: 41
Hi,
Virtually first time poster but looking forward to being involved. I have a bare wall about 4 foot high at the back of my garden with a high bare fence above it (although the neighbours ivy keeps trying to work through). It just seems so bare, particularly as it is the main view from the house.
There are fairly extensive borders to the other sides that I am happy with.
Inclined to add a smallish border at the back for some summer flowering plants and colour but don't want to eat up too much of the lawn.
Any thoughts/suggestions?
Last edited: 24 July 2016 20:24:19
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Posts
Hi Overgrowth and welcome to the forum. Being keen on encouraging wildlife into our garden I would grow cotoneaster which produces small flowers but the most tasty (to birds) red berries in the autumn. Cotoneaster doesn't need staking or tying as it just hugs up against walls or fences quite naturally. I also like Pyracantha which although prickly has a mass of berries which also attract birds as well as flowers in the spring. Both these plants are evergreen so and have summer and winter appeal. Sweet peas will add instant colour next summer if trained up the wall. I must say that your grass looks very healthy.
There are lovely plants you can grown up walls, but it does depend whether it's in sun or shade. My favourites are roses, honeysuckle and clematis. The wall looks big enough for quite vigorous plants. I would have honeysuckle Belgica and Serotina as one is early and the other late. Have a look at these sites http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/type/climbing-roses and http://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/
I'm afraid I'm not keen on Pyracantha, very prickly and can get out of control if not kept pruned.
Don't plant too close to the wall as the soil tends to be dry. A wider bed always looks better than a thin bed.
Thanks all and some good ideas. I think it really needs something so a border and a mix of summer colour/annuals and climbers should hopefully work. Nothing like the scent of Honeysuckle in late summer.
I should have said, it is south facing so this perhaps gives me more options. . . not likely to be too hot though (N.Ireland!)
Good luck with whatever you decide to plant Overgrowth - some lovely plants will help to enliven and add interest to that area
What are you on about Overgrowth? I'm in Fermanagh and it's totally tropical here!
I'm half near melted! 
Overgrowth, there is an article in the Gardeners World magazine with ideas for growing against walls and fences - received my mag a few days ago.