Fast growing screen??

Hello Im new on here, just wondered if anyone could advise me of a fast growing 'plant' that will grow higher than my fence panels to use as a screen. Ive been advised Russian vine but after reading some reviews on the internet Im wondering if this is a good idea.
My garden is small and although Im prepared for a bit of hard work, the thought of the Russian vine taking over my garden is a bit scary.
Any advice is much appreciated.

 

Hi Louby, Bamboo might be good, but beware, if your garden is small it can spread easily. i have a phyllostachys flexuosa which has small leaves or chusquea culeou (chilean bamboo) which is slow growing. i suppose it depends what look you're going for, eg wouldn't look right in english country garden! sorry, bit of a novice myself.....there's always the dreaded conifer! :eek:

 

hi BETTYBLUE, I got rid of the dreaded conifers last year,now I have lots of different bamboos, all hardy and stood the last winter even my banana tree.none of my bamboos are invasive.

 

Hi Fancy, bamboo's are great, aren't they. I just cant get over their hardiness, good winter green. Keep thinking about getting a musa, but only my nails are green - not my whole fingers! Fed up with killing plants.... a mixture of kindness + neglect in my house.

 

hi BETTYBLUE, if you ask BM nicely he will tell you more about musa basjoo. mine is 18 mths. old and growing outside but I CUT THE LEAVES IN NOV. AND wrap the musa in winter fleece. then in april I REMOVE the fleese and leaves start off where I CUT THEM.I have also just treated myself to a HIMALAYAN EDDIBLE banana. I have yet to see how that is going to take off. you have to take the bull by the horn and get on with it. go on BETTYBLUE You can do it. I also have NEWZEALAND PHOMIUMS. THESE are good hardy evergreens and in various colours.

 

Thanks for the replies, I will have a look at bamboo. My problem is my house is up for sale and we overlook an industrial estate. I have conifers at the bottom along the fence which do a great job but only shrubs up the side fence. Viewers like my house but are then put off by the view so Im desperate to hide it as much as possible and as quickly as possible.

 

Fargesia nurieliae - the polite bamboo - is a possibilty. I've just been using it, and it's nice-looking
http://www.binnyplants.co.uk/plants.php?show=1734

http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/refinesearch2/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=1583

 

hi louby,I know just the thing for you, its a fast growing climber and I mean afast growing climber. its called the RUSSIAN VINE. it has masses of white flowers and will cover an area quite quickly. :D :D

 

Thanks everyone.
Wont Russian Vine take over my small garden? Can I contain it to the fence area only (have some decking near the fence) Also would I need to put trellis above the fence to support it?

 

LOUBY, YES YOU CAN CONTAIN IT, YOU WILL HAVE TO CUT NEW GROWTH.IN LEICESTER IT COST ABOUT �£6. IN MY OLD HOUSE I put trellis above the fence.I may get to cover my shed roof.if it gets too invasive I will chop it right down.

 

Thanks Fancy, It does look lovely and its cheap too. I will definately go to the garden centre and have a look at it. Does it grow over the winter months? Sorry for what may seem a stupid question. Just that if our house doesnt sell soon we are going to take it off the market and try again next spring...hopefully with a nicer view!! :D

 

Ive just seen Clematis Montana, any good or bad reports on this plant please?

 

depends on the timing of your house-sale. The vine looks like nothing on earth over winter until spring when its starts to grow again. It'll be VERY vigorous and I wouldn't recommend it at all. The clematis montana will look spectacular inspring, then green leaves for the rest of summer into autumn, but again, nothing much over winter.

Sounds like what you need is something evergreen that will cover the problem area fast, and hide it. How about putting up a trellis, and putting up some fatshedera lizei, which will give an evergreen backdrop, and growing some clematis up through it, giving some flowers through spring and summer?
This is a combination I've used in some designs...

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=fatshedera+lizei&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&sa=N&tab=wi

 

P.S. - clematis montana is liable to take over too - unless kept severely checked! But it's lovely! :D