What would you plant to screen trellis?

Hi, I am looking for some ideas on what we could plant to grow up the fence & along the trellis and help block out the houses at the side of us.
I have got a potato plant I was going to use but I'm still in two minds.
Ideally something which is evergreen, and likes the shade.

 

Hi @DaveyB
If you mean a Potato tree/vine (Solanum crispum), I have one ('Glasnevin') and wouldn't recommend it for that purpose. They are unruly growers and don't train well, with bits breaking off when tied in rather than bending.
I would look at clematis - there are some evergreen ones which might suit.

 

I have used Hops for such a location. Although not evergreen as such, they can be left as a rambling mass of stems to give a screen all year. Mine screen an electrical sub-station, they are currently 2ft above a 6ft trellis, have been a great attractor of honey bees and are just developing the aromatic hops, which could be used for brewing but I will not bother this year. Mine were 're-homed' from a Official secrets location near Camberley (no guessing !) so cannot disclose.

 

I don't think I've seen one of them plants

 

Search :
humulus lupulus

 

Honeysuckle.

 

Hops aren't evergreen. Once they get going they can take over.
Clematis armandi is evergreen with fragrant flowers and can be pruned back to how you want .

 

We inherited some hops and they are a nightmare. They will grow 6m from ground level in a season and smother anything and everything in their path. I have one left at the base of a trellis fence as I’m unable to get the roots out (entwined around the concreted in base). They quickly scale up the trellis and then into my neighbours trees and bushes if I don’t keep cutting them down but they don’t provide any real coverage to the trellis, they might if I kept tying them in but I get a rash if I handle them.

 

A lot will depend on your location and conditions @DaveyB . The evergreen clems, for example, aren't great at all here where I am, and they often need quite a sheltered site too.
If you can offer a little more info that will help, and maybe a pic of the site too if you can manage one.
If you have room, ie in the border by the fence, you might be better opting for something shrubbier, rather than a climber as such. Many woodier plants will work, and can be self supporting, and easily be trimmed and shaped against fences and walls. Many Euonymus fortunei varieties will also climb, rather being mounded, if they have something to grow up against.

E. Silver Queen certainly does, although it may not grow big enough. What height are you needing for a bit of privacy?

 

Hi we've not got alot os space but hoping this picture helps.

I regret not leaving space when laying the patio as we've a big gap with no plants so I was hoping I could grow something along, it is quite shady near the fence but once it reaches the trellis it'll get sun all afternoon

 

It is looking good. I still go for Honeysuckle for the scent or maybe a Clematis. I had Solanum (Potato Vine) in the UK and have it here and, although pretty, can be unruly.

 

Where are you trying to plant something @DaveyB ? I can't see any spaces. Are you going to use a container? You could build something of a decent size next to the existing containers. If you want certain climbers, and they're potted, it needs to be decent enough for the root system. Not all climbers are happy in pots anyway.
What's the structure to the left of the pic, and is there space beyond it? It looks like it could be very small, even if there is any space.

I'm guessing by your description that the fence is roughly south west to west facing. In winter, any rain will be enough to keep a potted plant happy, but that's different in summer unless you're in a consistently wet part of the country, so plants will need to be checked regularly to make sure they have enbough moisture.

 

Hi the fence is north facing, it's not great in the winter and the reason we put slate and artificial grass down was due to the typical new build gardens, I tried everything added in drainage which is connected to the drains which helped, so ive got to be mindful there's piping underneath with shingles.

I was thinking about planting it less hassle, maybe I could squeeze something in between the pots l, if that doesn't work I'm not sure.

The rattan furniture is on the left.

 

How do you get on with your neighbour? That fence looks like it belongs to them as the smooth side is facing their garden. If it is theirs they can demand you remove anything attached to it. I have experienced a fence war.

 

The problem is - we still don't know what size the space is for planting into! You can't tell from that pic. What size is the gap between the patio edge and the fence? Or is that not where you intend planting? If there's room, you could always have the ones in the containers alongside the patio, and then improve the area where they are, for a climber.
Also, if there's been problems in the rest of the site with drainage, and the notorious rubbishy soil after builders have been there, then you'll have to really pay attention to the soil before planting anything. It's a waste of money otherwise because any plant is more likely to fail if the soil isn't great to start with.

It's the other way round @waterbut - the posts are on @DaveyB 's side, so the fence is technically his.