Bay window planting and wall climber

peroroncino

After my previous discussion about landscaping my driveway I spoke to the council and ended up having to rethink my plans. In order to meet the hardstanding width requirements I have to settle for a fence as a divider.

This however gives me an opportunity to utilise other spaces in my front garden such as under my windows and the wall above them. It faces north-east so what could I grow in containers? I could break up the slabs in the outlined area which gives me a 2 ft width but ideally I'd like to avoid harder work!

The under-window height is about 2-3 ft so something(s) to grow up to that is ideal. Perhaps something scented so its fragrance wafts in when the windows are open in summer and/or something for the sparrows too

My wall has been re-rendered and what was previously a lovely white is now a dull grey so I'd like to grow a climber on it via a trellis or wires. This would either be in a container or directly in the ground. First choice is pyracantha as it's evergreen and has lovely berries. Star jasmine is another contender but I'm not so sure it will flower much due to the aspect. What else could fit?

I've had a look at the Ealing Front Gardens Project for some inspiration too.

Reckon it's possible to cover up all the grey bits around the windows including the top ones?

peroroncino

I'd like to achieve this sort of effect on the right and top of the windows

Pianoplayer

Hello. I think you are right - star jasmine wouldn't be suitable as it needs sun. Pyracantha is good as it can be trimmed to keep it in shape and make it dense. My flock of sparrows certainly loves my pyracantha hedge! It will need to be in the ground though. I am not sure you have enough space up the RHS of your window between you and your neighbours to get it up and over like the photo though?

In terms of scent, you could use the pots by the door eg sarcococca, spring bulbs, scented annuals.

K67

Have you no plans to paint the render? Too late now but you could have used a coloured render.
As piano player says you can't grow a climber up a narrow wall without a lot of pruning and then to get it to fill out under your bedroom windows would take a lot of training and a plant in a pot wouldn't be able to sustain that growth.
Ivy would work but clings to render and might cause damage it if there are any slight cracks.
How lucky you are to have sparrows in your garden but do you think they would come so close to the house?
You might consider a long deep trough under the window with plants suggested, plus heucheras for year round  colour, for summer colour fibrous begonias and busy lizzies cope with shade plus small hostas, add some  trailing ivy over the edge.

peroroncino

Pianoplayer said:

Hello. I think you are right - star jasmine wouldn't be suitable as it needs sun. Pyracantha is good as it can be trimmed to keep it in shape and make it dense. My flock of sparrows certainly loves my pyracantha hedge! It will need to be in the ground though. I am not sure you have enough space up the RHS of your window between you and your neighbours to get it up and over like the photo though?

In terms of scent, you could use the pots by the door eg sarcococca, spring bulbs, scented annuals.

I was maybe thinking to grow it in a way so it only covers my right window and I could clip it to prevent it growing on my neighbour's side - thin until it reaches above my window so really it would only bush out like the photo above the windows. Sarcococca looks lovely

K67 said:

Have you no plans to paint the render? Too late now but you could have used a coloured render.
As piano player says you can't grow a climber up a narrow wall without a lot of pruning and then to get it to fill out under your bedroom windows would take a lot of training and a plant in a pot wouldn't be able to sustain that growth.
Ivy would work but clings to render and might cause damage it if there are any slight cracks.
How lucky you are to have sparrows in your garden but do you think they would come so close to the house?
You might consider a long deep trough under the window with plants suggested, plus heucheras for year round  colour, for summer colour fibrous begonias and busy lizzies cope with shade plus small hostas, add some  trailing ivy over the edge.

Yes I was hoping I could save some money by not painting the render since I saw no point in doing that if I was going to be covering it anyway, I blame myself for not knowing about coloured render I'll put the pyracantha/climber in the ground for sure as you're right about a pot not being able to sustain it. The sparrows like to jump around the roses eating the ants and aphids and they sometimes come under the windows so I'm pretty sure they'll check out whatever I grow...I hope

Thank you for the trough planting recommendations that would be a lovely combination! Especially trailing ivy

K67

Still don't think your side is wide enough, but maybe doable as the photo on here shows
https://www.monrovia.com/be-inspired/tips-for-growing-pyracantha.html

peroroncino

K67 said:

Still don't think your side is wide enough, but maybe doable as the photo on here shows
https://www.monrovia.com/be-inspired/tips-for-growing-pyracantha.html

Yep that's what I'm hoping to achieve up the side by using a vertical wire. The other self-clingers like ivy and hydrangea petiolaris are too risky imo.

JennyJ

Don't forget to be careful of those wires that are running up the wall beside the window when you're pruning. And if you ever needed to replace them, the pyracantha would make it a prickly job.

peroroncino

I think those wires are disconnected already but good point. There's still time so I might find an alternative plant if lucky

Lizzie27

Actually I believe it's not a good idea to screw wires into render as it might allow moisture to penetrate and crack the render. Perhaps other posters know from experience whether this is true or not?