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Can i grow anything in here?

Shirley KennedyShirley Kennedy Posts: 78
in Garden design

Hi Everyone,

I'm feeling a bit adventures and would like to grow something to enclose my garden a bit more make me lost in it kind of thing...not that I'm antisocial i just want it to feel more private and countryside rather than in middle of two other gardens.  Anyway my hubby put this fence up last year and hopefully he will finally paint it this weekend and afterwards i would like to try and grow something to cover it...there is limited space as you can see from the picture - My question is would ivy work or be a nightmare and can i combine it with any climbers or would they need more root space than is available? I thought scented would be amazing xxx

thing.......

image

 

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,066

    I wouldn't advise growing anything in a few inches of soil and so close to the fence, but how about getting some big troughs or pots, choice is yours then. Depending on whether it's sunny or shady of course.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    One thing which might grow in a stoney/rubble-rich soil is creeping Thyme which would love the drainage, but does need a fairly sunny spot..  I would risk a pound or two on a pack of seeds and just sprinkle them along the base of the fence and see what happens.   If it grows it will help keep weeds down and the bees & butterflies will love it.image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,066

    Good idea Bob, but OP wants to grow something up the fence for privacy.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Heidi92Heidi92 Posts: 11

    'New Dawn' climbing rose would be my first choice. It makes good coverage, tolerates poor soil conditions, has beautiful reoccurring flowers and is scented - bonus!

     

     

    You could also consider these (some people consider them a nuisance, others love them):

     

    Perwinkle, Morning glory - thin climbers with beautiful flowers

     

    Brambles - You can get thornless varieties with larger fruits

     

    Clematis - Attractive flowers, some can tolerate poor soils my concern would be that they can have a thick base stem once established.

    Or like you say ivy - good foliage some have flowers and berrys for additional interest but once its in it's not coming out without a war.

     

    Another route could be tall flowering bulbs or annuals depending on how much sun you get on that fence. Or I

     also like Lyn's advice of additional planters. Maybe a long thin box near the top of the fence full of trailing annuals to create a colourful barrier between you and your neighbours?

     

     

    Either way, I would say pick a couple that stand out for you and do research on them to see if you can meet the majority of their requirements and that you're happy with the potential of the established (fully grown) plant. Then it's a case of trial and error.

     

    Best of luck on your adventure. ???

  • B3B3 Posts: 26,999

    It looks awful narrow. How about putting rectangular containers in front of the fence 

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,354

    I thought I posted here hours ago, asking about width and soil depth. I obviously forgot to press 'submit' image

    How wide is that strip and how deep is the soil Shirley?



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,087
    I can not see anything that will grow up that fence because of the lack of width and depth of the soil.. Small leaved ivy may survive but that is something you have suggested that you do not want. But I would try ivy, which s very easy to propogate from the main plant . As for it been hard to control just prune it back to the shape of the fence to keep it neat and tidy
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