Stuck for ideas please help

OK So I have this area in the garden , I'm thinking of trying to hide the horrid drain pipes , So far I've thought of maybe some sweet peas growing up a wigwam of canes , Or a small Acer Anyone got any ideas for me ?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post , Ian

 

A climbing rose in a large container, unless you can lift a couple of slabs?

 

Firstly a symmetrically shaped and sized upside down 'T' of trellis to disguise the upper and lower pipes. Then climbers will have something to climb. Will the plant be in a pot? Mostly sun or shade? Depending on that, you'll get lots of recommendations

 

Thanks for the replies it will be in a pot , that part of the garden is shady until about 12 when the sun comes around then it stays sunny for a few hours but it is mostly shady

So I'm looking for something that would be OK in a shady area

Ian

 

If you painted all the pipework black, including the insulation, to match the main downpipe, the overall look would improve. You may need access to the drain for maintenance so bear that in mind.

 

Do you have a pot or would it need to go in the ground? That thin gravel line isnt much. Climbers can make it hard to access the pipes or even damage them if they get big enough.

I would suggest a shrub that can be shaped easily so you can make it into a thin but wide cover. Perhaps a Hebe or a bushy buddleia?

that said annual sweet peas are not that vigorous to cause damage

 

At our old house, we had a similar set up of pipes at the back of the house. My OH made a three sided wood “step” with a top on it. We then placed pots of plants on there. I think we had a couple of small ferns and then pots with summer annuals in them eg cosmos( which grew quite tall ). We also painted the pipes black as @Adam I suggested.
Whenever we needed to inspect the drawing was simply a matter of removing the pots and the wood shelf/step to get in. And it disguised an ugly part of the wall and pipes.

 

I would just add that when OH was making the top of the wood shelf, he cut out a portion of the top to go around the pipes so that it fit snugly pushed up against the wall.

 

I attached a trellis to the back of this plant trough. The first year I had tomatoes and sweet peas in it and replaced those the following year with a Clematis and Nicotiana.

 

@Plantminded mentioned painting the pipes, I am much too lazy for that