Ivy

I am currently planning out my coverage of a chain link fence. I think if I play it right it could be an asset to the garden rather than a hideous eyesore.

I have some clematis montana, a honeysuckle and a chiliean potato vine. I am about to put in some morning glory and some black-eyed susan for this year.

What concernes me is that some of the clematis will just head for the top of the fence, and I will still be able to see next doors scrap yard through the bottom of the fence. Also the creepers are obviously diciduous.

I am wondering if ivy, or something of that ilk, would be a good bet to cover the bottom of the fence, and provide year through privacy. However, I do not want to get lumbered with an ivy which in years to come will be a fight to keep back.

Can anyone give me some advice on ivy? I like the look of Boston ivy but it leaves me bare in winter once again.

Is there a type of ivy which will cover the bottom of the fence, but let the clematis and honeysuckle do its thing to provide some flowers? I also want to put a Rosa Moyesii Geranium along the fence, so it would need to let the rambling rose do its thing too.

I would really appreciate some help on this one.

 

Doesn't ivy need to sucker to a wall or fence? I get the feeling it might grow through the chain link fence, rather than over it, if you know what I mean...

How long is the fence? Couldn't you plant some things in front of it, to hide it instead? Or is that out of the question because of length?

Of course, there is always Russian Vine! That would cover the fence in a summer...but it would also cover your whole garden and next door as well, which might not be quite the desired effect!

Passion Flower is evergreen, mostly. As is Clematis Armandii.

 

Hee hee... yes we have considered all types of things to cover it.

The problem for us is that the area where the fence forms a boundary is the only spot in the garden suitable for veg. So, if we plant shrubs we will lose quite a lot of ground. We originally thought shrubs would be a good option, but it became clear in practical terms that by far the best veg plot is the one that backs onto the fence.

It is about 20 metres! I have seen some amazing fences covered by climbers - well actually you can't see the fences, just a mass of flowers and blooms - through google.

It's just a case - I hope - of finding the right things for the job, or the right combination. But it is a little bit of a headache!

 

I can imagine. Those fences aren't the most attractive really.

You could put tall veg, corn on the cob or runner beans in front of the fence and hide it that way, although it doesn't deal with hiding it in winter really, does it? Of course, I seem to recall you saying that you didn't go out into the garden much in winter and were glad that herbaceous perennials died down to give you a rest!

 

Damn it! That has come back to haunt me!! :dh:

I don't mind the look of any vegetative matter in winter. My neighbour's cars, that he is 'doing work on' and the rusty piles of metal bother me all year round! Especially as our sitting room looks in that direction. As I have said before, lovely people... but not gardeners!

Silly really, because I could get some screening and attach it to the fence to improve the look, but I don't want to offend them. It is more of an obvious snub! I've had bad neighbours before, students, which made our lives a living hell. It's so nice to have lovely people living next door, I want to be considerate.

A 20 meter line of corn on the cob? Hmmm... :hehe:

In all seriousness we have arranged our runner beans to form a screen!

 

I dunno, batches of corn might look really good!

 

So you're not keen on ivy? :hehe:

 

Not at all, I love Ivy. I have several of them, they're brilliant for covering an ugly fence and love that they look good all year round.

 

I thought it might have the added benefit of being good for the birds, they seem to love the stuff. I will carry on investigating a pretty type. :thumb:

 

I have had mixed experience of ivy. We used it originally to cover a large interwoven fence, but the problem was that once it got going it was hard to control. A few years on, removing it meant pretty much destroying the fence.

I'm not sure whether you could reaslisticaly use it for your application though as it best "sticks" to solid surfaces.

 

Hmm.. I wonder what another option could be? Periwinkle, although I don't think that climbs particularly. Maybe the clematis will be enough eventually. Honeysuckle does not seem to like it much.

 

If it's sheltered from cold winds and get a decent amount of sunshine, Passionflower climber would work well on it and unless there is another harsh winter, will more or less stay evergreen.

 

It is in sun, and soil should be fine, but it is not sheltered unfortunately. We have a hedge the other side, but the side of the chainlink fence has no real barrier to the wind over the next three gardens. So it does tend to whistle through a bit in winter.

I will research it!

 

clematis (possibly evergreen) but you need to consider the maintence of the plant, how is it to be pruned, and maintenance of the fence.

Have you consider Euonymous and other scrambling plants

 

No.. have no clue what euonymus is! Will Google it.