Covering a fence

[Frankiesgirl]

Hello. I am new here so apologies if I get anything wrong. I have a fence in my garden that is about 5/6 ft high and I want to cover it for privacy with some sort of climber that will flower. There were Russian vines on it before and they were great for coverage, but so very hard to control. They have been taken out and now I have an empty fence that needs some coverage. I am new to this forum and new to gardening in general. I have a few pot plants but that is about the limit of my knowledge and would really appreciate any help that anyone can give me. Thank you.

 

[Sheal]

Welcome Frankiesgirl. Where are you in Britain please? Getting an idea of your climate will help with suggestions. I've just hit your location in your avatar box and I suspect the map it's showing is not your area.

 

[Marck]

Greetings, welcome to the Forums.

A photo of the fence and surrounding space would help greatly.
Also tell us how much sunlight the fence receives during the day, both in Winter and Summer, if different.

Despite often needing to be pruned several times a year, Russian Ivy (Fallopia baldschuanica), also known as Russian Vine, Silver Lace Vine, or Bukhara Fleeceflower, in the Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) can be an excellent vine for fast coverage.
Recognize that the growth rate of a vine is a trad-eoff between speed and fullness of coverage vs. the frequency of pruning maintenance.

 

[Frankiesgirl]

Welcome Frankiesgirl. Where are you in Britain please? Getting an idea of your climate will help with suggestions. I've just hit your location in your avatar box and I suspect the map it's showing is not your area.

Hi Sheal Thank you for replying. I am in suburban Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

 

[Frankiesgirl]

Greetings, welcome to the Forums.

A photo of the fence and surrounding space would help greatly.
Also tell us how much sunlight the fence receives during the day, both in Winter and Summer, if different.

Despite often needing to be pruned several times a year, Russian Ivy (Fallopia baldschuanica), also known as Russian Vine, Silver Lace Vine, or Bukhara Fleeceflower, in the Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) can be an excellent vine for fast coverage.
Recognize that the growth rate of a vine is a trad-eoff between speed and fullness of coverage vs. the frequency of pruning maintenance.

Hi Marck Thank you for the reply. I used to have Russian vines, but they took over everything so I took them out. The sun is on the fence from about noon onwards and I live in a dip next to a park with trees so don't get too much bad weather (wind etc)

 

[Marck]

If not Russian Ivy (Fallopia baldschuanica), then how about English Ivy (Hedera helix)? I see there is already some growing on the left side of the photograph. English Ivy would give you year-round evergreen coverage.

Of course, you did say you want a flowering vine, and in truth, both of the vines already mentioned do flower, but I expect you mean a vine with more colourful or showy flowers. Still, many of the showiest flowering vines for cooler climates are deciduous. Which is more important to you: showy flowers or evergreen coverage?

Also do understand, that all vines will need some pruning maintenance and faster-growing vines that give better coverage will need pruning more often. If you plant another vigorous vine and do not maintain it, you could be back to a situation like what you had before with the Russian Ivy. Is pruning and otherwise maintaining a vine something that you really want to do, either directly, or through the services of a gardener?

 

[Sean Regan]

Hi and welcome.

Looking at the photo, I'd say long term you need something more substantial than the trellis.

I'd suggest making some oblong box frames of 2" X 2" or similar. Say 6ft high and the distance between the concrete posts and then screwi them to the posts
You could then attach the trellis to it. I'd then string strong garden wire horizontally between the uprights at one foot intervals.
You could choose any climber, but I'd recommend a wisteria, which is what we have growing along a fence. It's supported on the wires, not the fence panels.

Once the blooms have faded the foliage will give you a lot of privacy for the rest of the year, this was taken at the end of October. They are very quick growing and need very little care.

 

[Sheal]

Hi Sheal Thank you for replying. I am in suburban Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Thank you. Interestingly, the map that showed for me was not Yorkshire either.

 

[Sheal]

Although I agree with Sean that a more substantial fence or trellis is needed I wouldn't recommend a Wisteria as the branches create a lot of weight.

If you prefer something that will cover the fence from one plant, then I'd suggest Lonicera (Honeysuckle) which is perfumed, or one of the many varieties of Clematis available. If you try Clematis, you also have the option of buying more than one variety to plant along the base of the fence and these will weave through each other providing a mix of flowers.

The link below is of a specialist grower and I've bought good, healthy plants from them. The list on the left hand side will give you guidance on which plants will suit your requirements.

Edit: They are also in Yorkshire.

Buy Clematis Plants Online

Add structure and colour to your outdoor space with our reliable and beautiful clematis plants. Shop our large range today, all trialled at Perch Hill.

www.taylorsclematis.co.uk

 

[Oliver Buckle]

You missed one of the local names for Russian vine, Marck, Mile a Minute, and that really is the advantage of it, anything else will take time. Wisteria is very slow to flower sometimes, clematis is a good bet, but there is a nasty disease of clematis going about. There are also some nice honeysuckles (Graham Thomas is a good vigorous one with scent as well), and roses. For immediate cover this year how about morning glory, Grandpa Otts is my favourite, and will probably drop seed and come back. People are not keen on ivy on the whole, but there are some nice variegated ones, I like it because I used to keep bees and it flowers late and sets them up for the winter when most things have finished, birds like the berries too.
I would be tempted to put in a couple of things and see what does well, my experience is that you don't really know 'til you try something. I have had honeysuckle that should have been perfect for the position and it was weakly and sick looking. I replaced it and put it down in the bottom hedge expecting it to die out, and it went 'Whoosh'.

 

[Frankiesgirl]

Hello. Thank you everyone for your replies and suggestions. Although I am no joiner, I can make the fence a bit more sturdy. The clematis sounds nice, but Honeysuckle sounds even nicer (thinking of the scent). I have no problem with pruning, but I couldn't keep pace with the Russian vines. The main thing is the privacy, especially in the summer. The colour and scent are a bonus, but the density of coverage is the main thing I need. Thank you.

 

[Marck]

Some Honeysuckles (Lonicera) will stay evergreen, at least in milder Winters. Lonicera henryi and Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), both from Asia, usually remain evergreen. Japanese Honeysuckle has larger, fragrant flowers, though some do find it too vigorous, and is invasive n wild areas. Pruning off berries can reduce further spread. If it is alright to have leaves drop in Autumn, then you might consider different forms of the native Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum). Even bare branches can supply some coverage if allowed to grow thick enough.

Planting a variety of vines is a good idea, both for visual interest, and also for deciding which ones work best for your needs and location.

If coverage is paramount, perhaps having a solidly opaque fence installed is the answer. Though even still I would would still lobby for any such fence to be covered in vines, for the sake of beauty and nature.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

There is a good vigorous, large flowered, scented honeysuckle we had at our last house called 'Graham Thomas'. I don't know who he was, but we had a rose that was named for him as well, and that was also good, a yellow specimen rose.