If you're seeking to transform your garden and cultivate a vibrant and lively scene for spring, autumn is the ideal time to put your green thumbs to work. Your garden fence can be more than just a functional feature — it can also be an attractive backdrop for climbing plants, shrubs, or grasses that can bring life to an otherwise unappealing structure. The choice of the perfect climbing plant requires careful consideration of a few factors.
Think about the type of fence you have, its location, and the type of plant you prefer. Are you looking for persistent, rustic, flowering plants? What about maintenance? Are you looking to create a natural screen with the plant, or you simply want to enhance the beauty of your garden? These questions will guide your decision.
Finding the Right Climbing Plant
The right plant can make all the difference. There are typically four categories of climbing plants that you can consider:
- Tendril Plants: These are easy to grow and they naturally wrap themselves around wire fences with fine meshes or wooden slats. Clematis and grapevines are popular choices.
- Lianas: These require a stable support with horizontal crossbars. Climbing roses, herbaceous clematis, and pyracantha with its red berries are popular. The blackberry plant and the evergreen nightshade are also suitable.
- Suction Cup Plants: These are ideal for walls as they form adhesive roots to attach to large objects or trees, but can also be suitable for fences or trellises. Consider climbing hydrangea, ivy, virgin vine, and the flowering trumpet vine.
- Voluble Plants: These grow upwards and wrap around objects that serve as supports. They are ideal for fences with metal wires. Honeysuckle, hops, and the delicate-flowering convolvulus are popular choices.
Planting Ideas for a Privacy Fence
Alternatively, if you have a privacy fence, here are some planting ideas:
- Bamboo: This is a classic choice for privacy.
- Molinia: This is a very rustic and low-maintenance grass.
- Elephant Grass or Miscanthus: This is an exotic-looking plant that can reach 4m in height.
- Rhododendron: This is a flowering shrub for shady places.
- Delphinium: This is an ordinary herbaceous plant with large, colorful spikes.
- Lavatera: This plant has a long flowering period and is ideal for semi-sunny situations.
- Graminees: This is a low-cost and low-maintenance solution.