Privacy - What can I grow from containers?

MattyD

Hi GWers,

we we have a relatively narrow garden with low fences, so, privacy is an issue. The neighbours aren't nudists or anything but I crave a vague barrier.

We would like to grow something fast up a fence, and onto the trellis affixed atop the fence. However, this secion being on a patio, my good lady is not keen on my idea to circular saw that small section of the patio to turn it into a growing section. This means pots or containers.

In a nutshell: can I grow a laurel hedge (enough for up to 2-3 metres) from pots or containers?

...or would a climber be a better option? Something like honeysuckle or climbing hydrangea - and again can these be grown from pots/container?

thanks.

Fairygirl

Reported again john. You lot never learn....

Matty - climbing hydrangeas and honeysuckles aren't really suitable  for container growing. I'd persuade your OH to take a section away and plant in the ground. Much easier - for the plants and you 

You can always add a bit of light groundcover so that the area has something interesting there when climbers are dormant. Or put a couple of containers with evergreens and spring bulbs in front of the space in winter 

Lyn

Climbing hydrangeas sucker to brick walls, and laurel is definitely not suitable for a container. 

MattyD

Very belated thanks to you all for your insight

yarrow2

If you are prepared to be a bit spendy - really big containers and to buy fairly mature plants, you could try bamboo.

I used Great Wall and had them in containers from about 2ft high.  In a couple of years they were 6 foot and I transplanted them into beds so that I could get some privacy in two open spots. 

This is one.  It's 6ft high, the other 7ft. At the base though it takes up 2ft of space - so one this size would need a very large pot.  Again though, you can keep it the size you want in a pot as it will stop the width expanding, or I found it worked.  The one in this photo is also less densely bushy than it would naturally grow as at this time every year I cut away a lot of the foliage to expose the canes - so it looks more 'see through' than it would if it had been left to grow as it does naturally. I cut loads away from it two weeks ago so it is very 'thinned out'.  This photo was a couple of days ago.  It will grow more bushy through the summer and I think they are lovely in shape and form and they have proved tough as old boots in Scottish weather with no problems at all.  Always look great (to me anyway) and whilst the feathery tops droop in the rain - as in this  photo - you can trim away at them as often as you like and it does no harm.  I think they are very attractive as well as providing a practical purpose in screening the little area where I like to sit and not be peered at.

Last edited: 03 July 2017 01:13:58

yarrow2

PS:  Sorry to go on.  A friend liked them so much he has 6 of them in massive pots to screen his sitting area and neighbour's fence.  Loves them and thinks they add an exotic touch!  Has to water a fair bit though as they drink it up but they've been a great success for all the years he has had them.  They look good all year round.  In Spring they foliage up really quickly and have been as healthy as anything in his big pots.

Last edited: 03 July 2017 01:20:58

Nanny Beach

I also have bamboos, to hide a view of an ugly block of flats above shops, (they were all painted etc recently, but the ones nearest me owned by a large well,known Supermarket, didnt get painted etc) I got a black,gold and red, a very good one in Homebase sale I think £20 and was already 2 metres high, in large black pots.