Forum home› Garden design

Hiding a wall

James230James230 Posts: 8
in Garden design

I have a wall that I want to mask all year, has anyone got some suggestions for something that will grow quickly and be a 12 month a year cover please? Holly grows wild everywhere in the woods around us so I thought I may start with that?

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Do you want to plant something in front of it or up it?

    How high is the wall? What is it made of? What direction does it face? What is in front of it? Border? grass? etc

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,719

    Ivy, different sorts, variegated as well as green are available. Honeysuckle, climbing hydrangea (how tall is it?) Or evergreen bushes to plants in front? Holly, of course, Choisya, Eleagnus (Gilt Edge is nice) Is it sunny or shady?

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 8,045

    Is it your own wall?  Can you attach wires or trellis direct to the wall?

  • James230James230 Posts: 8

    The wall is 6' high and 25 yards long and is covered with half round fence posts - looks like the Alamo..

    It is facing slightly south of east, the ground is 3 ' higher behind it (somewhat of a retaining wall) and gets a fair bit of sun, especially in the morning and early afternoon.

    We own the wall and ground all around it, it has strimmed grass in front of it.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,887

    Would it look better without the half-round wooden fence posts covering it? 

    If you're going to plant climbers to cover it, you'll need to dig a decent sized  border along it, and dig in some organic matter for your climbers to get their roots into.

    Just planting something and leaving it surrounded by grass just doesn't work ... the grass competes with the plants for water and nutrition and you're unable to mulch and feed properly, and the danger of strimming the bark of the climber and causing fatal damage is very real.  

    Also beware of planting too close to the wall.  Walls soak up moisture, and there is also an effect known as 'rain shadow' which means that quite a large area at the foot of a wall is shielded from rainfall by the wall, and plants really struggle because of drought.  This is why it's important to make the border wide enough, so the plants can be planted away from the wall and sloped back towards it, and also increases the importance of digging in lots of organic material before planting, and mulching with it afterwards, so increasing the moisture retentive properties of the soil in that area.   

    You may find this helpful https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=921

    Hope that doesn't sound too daunting, but if you get the preparation right it'll save time and money in the long run image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • James230James230 Posts: 8

    Thank you very much, you have raised a few things there that I haven't even considered but they are all doable.

    I am new to the forum and have to say it is fantastic, the people are so helpful.

    Many thanks again!

    Regards

    James

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,887

    You're very welcome James .............. it's always good to meet new gardening friends and swap ideas and info .... let us know how you get on  image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Sign In or Register to comment.