What would you plant to cover this wall?

Jacquimcmahon

Ideas ho help a friend please…..

there is a narrow border at the bottom of this wall on the left side and terrace on the left. Not possible to add trellis or attachments to the wall in any way….. how can we make it more appealing?  Oh and it’s in France so generally a few degrees warmer than the UK.  Nice soil, but full sun all day.

Fairygirl

Difficult if you can't add a support. Might need to be a wall shrub rather than a climber. Ceanothus or similar. 

Nollie

Could they not drive sturdy posts into the ground of the border to support a trellis, using those metal stake post supports? Both available from garden section of Leroy Merlin 😊 

B3

That's a real eyesore. Isn't it?
What about a trellis a couple of feet or so away from it so that you could get behind it if necessary 

Jacquimcmahon

Yes B3 it is a bit of an eyesore. She was thinking for the part where there is soil to add a row of arches side by side, as these could be Carried on along the part where the wall is lower. 

I’ll pass on the idea of supporting trellis on the stake supports, thanks Nolly. 

I gave her the hollyhocks last year but even thought they have grown well they really don’t make any impression against the monster wall! But at least we now have a better idea of the soil (this time last year it was 100% thistles, buttercups and bindweed…. We are still losing the buttercup battle but at least they are colorful.

nick615

Always with the proviso that the roots won't damage the damned wall, might there be something like a Magnolia, or other shrub/tree, that would break up the eyesore?

Fairygirl

Could they paint it? Surely that would improve it as well 
Then shrubs and small trees in front, with a gap for any maintenance, for the wall and the planting. 

Fire

Could you hanging strings off the roof? Grow green beans, sweet peas, tomatoes. 

Long term: Montana, hops or roses up the strings? Or create a string crossing lattice from the roof, diagonally, pegging into the ground? Could be an interesting project. 

Papi Jo

I suppose that horrible wall belongs to the neighbours. Have they been approached to find out if they would accept: painting it over (at your friend's expense, of course, not at their expense, since they probably don't care); minimal attachement of treillis; or whatever?

Is that a heat pump "ventilator" I can spot on one wall? Strange that it is located up there? It might interfere with any plants you might have in front of it.

Jacquimcmahon

They can’t do anything too permanent as there is some discussion happening around the huge crack which you can see in the picture. I never thought about potential interference from the heat pump, must pass that along, thanks papi jo.