something to cover a 4ft fence and nosey neighbours!

hello all,i sent a message a couple of months ago regarding my total lack of knowledge and advice on an oriental theme,well basically ive got two questions today if anyone can help,on one side of my garden ive put up a bamboo fence which is about 4 feet high it looks pretty cool we attached it to a chain link fence and its held really well,the problem is my neighbours kids were out in the garden today and i can see then over the top,not that ive anything against them id just like some privacy,we have just dug a border there and was wondering wot i could put up as a screen really,i was thinking bamboo would that do it?or any other suggestions that side gets full sun.My next question is on the other side of our garden we have a 6 doot fence and the border underneath is really shady and mostly wet not boggy though i was wondering if anyone has any idea of shrubs/plants along the oriental theme to put there,i like the kind of red spider plant thingys i think their called cordelyne (spelling may be off) which side woul;d they be best suited to also i really want a pieris forest flame is that a shady or a sunny one!as u can tell im clueless lol tc all amanda

 

dear pumpkinsoup
if you want Bamboo there are a lot of types, what you DONT want is the variety that spreads by suckers, otherwise your neighbours wont thank you for it growing through into their garden.
if you want instant height then you are going to have to spent a lot to get 5 foot shrubs etc..here's a few suggestions of herbacious plants that grow tall in one season,and then cut them down in late autumn ready for the next year CRAMBE cordifolia, ECHINOPS bannaticus, MACLEAYA, PHORMINUM tennax.......PIERIS WOULD BE OK ON THE OTHER SIDE SO LONG AS YOUR SOIL IS ACID. if your not sure, then get one and put it in a pot using compost specially for acid loving plants. HOSTAS, FERNS, HELLEBORUS orientalis will all go in damper places,....hope this has been of some help...your local nursery would also be helpfull i'm sure........
rossco

 

Cordylines like a sunny position

 

you can get packs of problem area plants from http://www.plantazia-nursery.co.uk/ - good luck!

 

t6hanx all once again youve been a great help

 

Hi Pumpkin,

sorry for a late reply, but hopefully this is of some use for you.

I have a simillar problem, and will put some bamboo down. I understand that the fargesia species is non-spreading and then you just pick the type according to the height you are after.

I think something like fargesia simba could do the trick for you.

All the best.