Advise on planting

I have a long 6' fence along the southern end of my garden that's, at 1-3', in near permanant shade. Above this height there's a fair amount of sun during the summer months. The border along the fence is fairly narrow, not much more than about a metre. I would like to plant this border with plants that would grow vigorously enough to quickly cover, or at least, break up the fence line but don't really know what would do this. I don't really want to plant a hedge as this section of the garden is fairly narrow and I would like to have a mixed border giving varied interest all year round.

Forgot to mention that there is a large ash tree halfway along that gives even more shade in this area.

I can post a picture if the above description is not clear enough.

Many thanks in advance.

 

Some photos to make things clearer.

Looking east


Looking west


View from the house (the fence in question is in the distance)

 

The east/west comments should be reversed. (I make maps for a living too :confused: )

 

You don't sell them to the ambulance service do you?? :confused:

 

Hi try some ferns or fatsia they like shade.

 

The fatsia is an interesting option. Some photos on google show it looking like minature trees. Ferns are ok for ground cover although I'm really looking for something that will grow to 5-6' quickly and not spread into the lawn area.

 

You can let a fatsia grow naturally all bushy or you can cut lower leaves off and just have one stem with the leaves on top, and it looks like a pawpaw tree then. I've done that to one of mine in the front garden it looks good. Bamboo will grow in part shade, or rhododendrons or azaleas, also for bedding begonias.

 

I think I would be inclined to plant one or more evergreen shrubs part way down the fence. Something with a bit of bulk to break up that long line. Shrubs are not my speciality, but I am sure someone can help. You can always clip them to keep them from growing out too far.

In addition to any shrubs, I would have some tall perennials. Along my fence I have Eupatorium atropurpureum. http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/sitePlant.php?plantid=697 Its a lovely perennial, grows to about 6 foot, with huge multiple flower heads in purple. It dies back back in winter. It flowers for a long time and it has bulk at the top where I think you want it. Next to it I have Cirsium rivulare, http://www.crocus.co.uk/catalogue/home/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=78110 not quite as tall, but still gets up to about 5 feet, but its bulk is more at the bottom than the top. However it does flower for a very long period of time. Next to that I have Aster Little Carlow. http://www.crocus.co.uk/wherestart/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=2000005854&CategoryID= This is an Aster that grows to about 5 feet and is brilliant in autumn. Next to that I have Filipendula rubra Venusta http://www.bethchatto.co.uk/plant%20portraits%20f/filipendula%20rubra%20'venusta'.html , which should grow to about 5 foot, but mine is only in its second year. None of these come out very far in my garden - less than 2 foot from the fence.

If you want some real height there is Macleaya cordata http://www.plantpress.com/plant-encyclopedia/plantdb.php?plant=1503 which can grow to anything between 6 and 12 feet.

Behind all these I have a large number of Clematis (�£1.75 at Morrisons), about two per fencing panel.

 

I was going to suggest climbers, rather than shrubs, as they shouldn't take up as much space width-wise.

I have two honeysuckle, and two climbing roses along the shady side of a boundary wall, and a bed infront of that. They camouflage the sall beautifully (it is an old brick wall, which someone saw fit to top with those horrible concrete patterned blocks). They honeysuckly/rose combo does a great camouflage job!

I had a fatsia japonica in the bed, but it grew enormous, so I replaced it with a contorted hazel, which is growing well. Under that, I have a stinking iris (great for foliage, and bright winter berries), ferns, aqualeiga, hellebores, a few hosta and other shade tolent things I cant bring to mind at the moment!

Hope that gives you a wee bit of help.

 

A shrub that will do well is Aucuba Japonica which seems to grow well anywhere.
Also try the BBC plantfinder site. Just put in the conditions etc and it will come up with a selection of plants that will grow there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/index.shtml