hiding a garden workshop

Good morning,

We have a garden workshop in the house we moved into. It could do with something growing there to at least soften the appearance and to make it feel part of the garden. The garden is woodland surrounded by trees.

I thought of clematis, the sort that don't need pruning but which will cover the window, ivy which will need to be cut back often but I could cut it to leave the window free. The light from the window is valuable for the intricate work I do in the workshop.

Appreciate other suggestions.

 

I would go for some planting around it rather than climbers over it. The latter, in my opinion, would draw the eye to it even more. Also some smaller shrubs etc would be easier than climbers which you will have to train and tie in.

I would have some planting to the left side and also extend the existing border on the right to reach to the shed. I’ve scribbled in your photo to hopefully show how it will nestle your building into the garden

 

I would leave it alone. It looks great.

 

Another option to consider is to paint the workshop and your fencing a matching colour. I find that forest green does not sit well in a garden, it doesn't match the green of most foliage or grass. Black or dark grey can help outbuildings and fencing become less of a feature and make the green foliage stand out. It took me over two years to decide to paint my fencing black but it transformed the garden immediately.

 

Another vote for leaving it alone but maybe a couple of low to medium growing shrubs would enhance it.

 

Painting it and the fence in the same dark colour is indeed a good idea.

A medium sized evergreen shrub to soften the corner could work well. I vote for Arbutus Unedo Compacta because I accidentally bought one and trust it to do similar job in my garden.

As for the climber, it depends on what style you are after and how much sun the workshop gets.

Evergreen Lonicera will do everywhere, and in a sunny spot an undemanding climbing Rose could look fantastic trained horizontally near the roof line. Some pruning is needed but not too much.

 

I'm all for a couple of climbers Does it get much sun? Trachelospermum jasminoides would be a better alternative to ivy..it doesn't leave sticky prints on the surface of the wood, is evergreen and has lovely, scented flowers. The viticella Clematis are more easy-going than the large flowered hybrids or if you want complete coverage, a montana would soon do the job. Painting sheds and fences is an ongoing chore, especially when you need to move plants to do it!

 

No, no, ivy would be bad there, because it would attach itself to the shed, and once established it would start producing mature leaves and branches. For me the shed looks ideal, I would add a narrow flowerbed where the wall with window is.

 

I tend to agree about leaving it but maybe a repaint as suggested. If you are still wanting a climber then Clematis armandii is evergreen and flowers late winter/early spring and is fragrant.
However once you have a climber it needs supports (into your workshop?) and then when you need to repaint you will have to dismantle it all.

 

The workshop is already painted and will need to be maintained anyway, as will the roof. Much easier to do this without climbers to contend with. You could consider adding some trellising close to the workshop and growing a climber up that. Definitely avoid ivy, I’ve just removed some from fencing and had to repaint it.

 

I painted my new workshop black when it was first installed and the eye doesn't notice it for some reason even though it isn't smothered in plants.

You've already got it a nice green colour so I would say that will blend in better than other colours like grey or blue.

I'd plant a few large shrubs in the vicinity of it rather than next to it. It'll blend in much more easily then.

 

In my previous garden a trellis to hide the back of the shed and bins. If far enough away you would still get the needed light.