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Bare west facing fence
lynredshaw
Posts: 43
I have a west facing fence that belongs to my neighbour, my original fence was covered in ivy and the birds loved it, but my neighbour has put up a new fence and doesn't like ivy, what evergreen cover can I replace the ivy with .
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Hydrangea seemannii is a good plant. Evergreen with lovely flowers.
Thanks ladybird4, does that self cling to the fence cos I need something that I can support against the fence, he is a very nice neigbour but I don't want to damage the fence cos he paid for it.
You could try a wall shrub such as ceanothus. Dark Star will spread to about 3m and give you scented flwoers in late spring. Another is payracantha which has spring blossom and autumn berries and is excellent for wildlife.
If you stretch wires horizontal wires between the posts at 12"/30cm intervals you could try clematis such as armandii which is evergreen and has scented white flowers in spring.
The RHS website mentons 2 evergreen or semi evergreen honeysuckles - Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' AGM: An evergreen or semi-evergreen, vigorous climber with dark green leaves and white fragrant flowers from spring to summer. Height: 10m (33ft).
L. henryi: This is an evergreen, vigorous honeysuckle with purplish-red flowers between early and mid-summer, followed by purple-black berries. Height: 10m (33ft).
Plant a mixture and spread your flowering times.
It is a self clinger so may not be the best pick. Obelixx has given you some super suggestions,
Thanks for your help, I treated the ivy with a strong weed killer so I think I'd better wait til spring before I plant anything.
I have a euonymus of some type with variegated leaves which grows along a west-facing fence. It has tiny flowers, hard to see but loved by hoverflies, and tiny white berries. Birds love hiding in it. Only problem might be when we moved in it had grown through the rotten fence to the other side but when we replaced the fence we've managed to keep it on our own side. It only takes about about 1 foot out from the fence and covers quite a bit of it. I didn't think I'd want to keep it when we moved in but now I love it. I trying to grow dog roses through it.
Thanks watery, I also have an eponymous which is the only thing on that fence, the birds love it, maybe I should plant a few more to cover the fence like the ivy did.
Er
Clematis armandii is great but for a trouble-free companion for your Euonymus my first choice would be Trachelospermum, although it takes time to build up a good cover--however once it has, nothing can beat it for the requirements you describe. Ceanothus is a great suggestion too but they only last 7-8 years, so one solution is to put in a Trachelospermum which will eventually take over when the Ceanothus expires. Or having the entire space covered in the Euonymus is a lovely idea. Pyracantha is another possibility too as Obelixx says. I love the smell of Lonicera japonica but if you spend a lot of time looking at your fence it may not be the best thing--it has periods of the year where it looks really manky. I love Hydrangea seemannii too, but where I am it too often gets badly frosted and then you have 9 months of brown leaves. Had you thought of a nearly evergreen rose--'Felicite et Perpetue' would work.
Thanks for all your advice, you've given me alot of choice, I will definitely be getting that rose it sounds perfect.