Hiding a Fence

mattbat7

We’re looking to hide a neighbours fence using plants and looking for advice on suitable candidates.

Unfortunately a drain pipe run in very close proximity so looking for something shallow rooted and non invasive roots, while provides year round interest and wildlife benefits. (And if at all possible native to the UK)

Thanks

K67

I'm sorry but you will have to provide more information and a photo if you can.
Is it sunny or shady or inbetween, how wide is your border, how much fencing is there and is it yours?
Do you want evergreen or don't mind and what type of soil?

Hostafan1

Welcome to the Forum. 
"native to UK " limits you to about 6 plants.

mattbat7

K67 said:

I'm sorry but you will have to provide more information and a photo if you can.
Is it sunny or shady or inbetween, how wide is your border, how much fencing is there and is it yours?
Do you want evergreen or don't mind and what type of soil?

It’s east facing, and about 8m of fence to hide (not our fence), ideally evergreen if possible and it’s not clay, but lighter.

The border is around 1.5m deep from the fence with drain pipe running through the middle (so around 0.75m from fence) but around 0.8m to 1m below.

We did dig out a couple of old tree stumps when clearing (ranging from 1 to around 2.5ft in diameter)

mattbat7

Hostafan1 said:

Welcome to the Forum. 
"native to UK " limits you to about 6 plants.

Thankyou.

We like the idea of trying to be as ‘native’ as possible when planting but in reality we’ll go with what works.

we’ve just planted 30m of purple beech along one boundary given the all year round interest and wondering if this would also be suitable given proximity to the drainage pipe?

StephenSouthwest

You could consider a clematis...

Obelixx

If you go for climbers you will need the fence owner's permission to attach supports which would be trellis panels or tensioned wires guided thru vine eyes on the fence posts.   I'd have thought 30 metres of purple beech was quite enough dark stuff and that you'd be better growing something lighter and more varied in colour and texture and maybe offering something for wildlife such as shelter, nectar, pollen and berries for pollinators, invertebrates, small mammals and birds.

Given that the Ice Age covered nearly all of the UK and that the land was subsequently covered with forests cleared and settled and farmed by subsequent immigrants from the first Stone Age settlers to the Romans who brought plants and seeds with them, deliberately or by accident, you're going to be hard pushed to define "native".

Climbers such as roses, pyracantha, clematis, honeysuckle go back centuries but often modern varieties are better suited in terms of size and behaviour from flowering colour and periods to disease resistance.

You could also consider beefing up the soil with plenty of well-rotted manure and garden compost and planting a range of perennials that would disguise the fence but not need to be attached.  

mattbat7

Obelixx said:

If you go for climbers you will need the fence owner's permission to attach supports which would be trellis panels or tensioned wires guided thru vine eyes on the fence posts.   I'd have thought 30 metres of purple beech was quite enough dark stuff and that you'd be better growing something lighter and more varied in colour and texture and maybe offering something for wildlife such as shelter, nectar, pollen and berries for pollinators, invertebrates, small mammals and birds.

Given that the Ice Age covered nearly all of the UK and that the land was subsequently covered with forests cleared and settled and farmed by subsequent immigrants from the first Stone Age settlers to the Romans who brought plants and seeds with them, deliberately or by accident, you're going to be hard pushed to define "native".

Climbers such as roses, pyracantha, clematis, honeysuckle go back centuries but often modern varieties are better suited in terms of size and behaviour from flowering colour and periods to disease resistance.

You could also consider beefing up the soil with plenty of well-rotted manure and garden compost and planting a range of perennials that would disguise the fence but not need to be attached.  

Thanks,

we’re currently considering honeysuckles ideally some which are evergreen to hide the hedge and provide interest  if they are any recommendations?

(we have another 70m of varied hedging along with the 30m of copper beech that already provide a bounty of shelter and food for wildlife)

Loxley

I put posts with wires along my (neighbour's) fence, and planted climbers. That way the climber supports are in my control. I've got a climbing rose (Mme Alfred C) and a couple of star jasmine along there. I painted the fence dark grey to make it less prominent, I didn't ask permission but you probably should if it's not been previously painted. (My fence was bright blue previously, on my side...)

The rose was effectively evergreen until that arctic blast a couple of weeks ago. So would recommend. The fence is N. facing.