Looking into Vertical Gardening

LucyL

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be loosing a big part of my garden to my partners garage... (will be built in the next couple years) so i am now going to have to look into vertical gardening.

We are also having the fencing redone and a big set of double gates  at the side of the house splitting the back from the front.

Q1 - Would i be able to grow something on the gate itself? it would have to be fixed to the gate and not too heavy. anyone done this?

Q2 - I'm now thinking that it might be quite shaded in one area, is there any type of veg / fruit bush/tree that doesn't take up too much room, that would grow in that space? I could probs manage a raised bed in that area.

Any information etc of your personal experiences and advice would be great, also any flowers that are good climbers (i have a honeysuckle, dark purple clematis already) that would help the local wildlife too would be great

Thanks in Advance

hogweed

Do you mean the stanchions holding the gate up or the gate itself? The gate would be opening and shutting so would damage the stems of any plant planted near it and trained over. Almost any plant will grow up the stanchions if given the right support (and if it is not in deepest shade). 

Yviestevie

Shade

Some varieties of roses will grow in shade, check out David Austin's website.  I have gloriana, gertrude Jekyl both on shady fences.

Winter honeysuckle is a good evergreen climber, lovely scent in Jan/Feb.

Chocolate vine is also a good plant, the scent from mine this year was glorious (it took about 3 years before we got real perfume from it).

Sun

Obviously there are lots of roses that love the sunshine.

Jasmine grows well in a nice sunny site.

I also use lots of obelisks to give height, I grow lots of different clematis in containers.  Good site to check out the best varieties is Taylors.