Ideas for hedging/covering a fence

Dizzie77

I am hoping to surprise my parents while they are on holiday by doing some little jobs in the garden for them - one of the jobs is to plant something to cover a little fence in their garden.

The fence is about 3' tall - and Mum would like something that is easy to manage (i.e. something that doesn't grow too wildly that needs trimming every couple of weeks!!) but also something that is fairly easy on the eye - and preferably something evergreen.

Any suggestions? I was thinking of honeysuckle - but that isn't evergreen, is it?

I don't want to spend a fortune - I'm planning to do a few more jobs, and I don't want to bankrupt myself...!

Would be very grateful for ideas.....
Cheers!

Mojisola

Dizzie77 wrote: »

The fence is about 3' tall - and Mum would like something that is easy to manage (i.e. something that doesn't grow too wildly that needs trimming every couple of weeks!!) but also something that is fairly easy on the eye - and preferably something evergreen.

Any suggestions? I was thinking of honeysuckle - but that isn't evergreen, is it?

Lonicera japonica is evergreen and has sweetly fragrant flowers. It will cover quite a big area on a low fence. If you peg down the ends of shoots, it will root easily and your Mum can then plant the new plants further down the fence until it's all covered.

Dizzie77

Thanks Mojisola - I will investigate...!

lilac_lady

A Russian vine (aka a mile a minute) will cover the fence quickly and can easily be kept trimmed.

Dizzie77

Thanks Lilac_lady - I think the russian vine looks a bit too intimidating....!! When the Guardian call it a "swine of a vine" - I think it's better for me to steer clear...!!
I'm going to investigate the prices for the honeysuckle - it is quite a long fence, so will need a few!

EmptyPockets

Dizzie, thanks for posting this. DH and I have been wondering what to plant for exactly the same reason. We have a fence surrounding our veggie patch at the bottom of the garden, but we would like to hide it or screen it off by growing something around or in front of it. Look forward to reading more ideas on this

tanith

What about a Winter Jasmine , it does lose some leaf but the stems are bright green and give the impression of being in leaf and of course has the beautiful bright yellow flowers for many of the Winter months... its easily trimmed and does grow quite quickly once it gets going..

Dizzie77

Thanks Guys - Could I mix and match honeysuckle and jasmine? I'm wondering if the smell from that would be overpowering!?
Also - would they work together?

Thanks so much.

zarazara

Honeysuckle,Winterjasmin,Clematis,verigated Ivy.

Rosebud24

Dizzie77 wrote: »

Thanks Guys - Could I mix and match honeysuckle and jasmine? I'm wondering if the smell from that would be overpowering!?
Also - would they work together?

I think they'd be a lovely combination. Honeysuckle tends to flower before Jasmine so it should not be overpowering. The honeysuckle berries should then arrive at the same time as the jasmine is flowering, which I think would look really pretty.

floss2

Climbing hydrangea - hydrangea petialoris (I think) - is evergreen and has small sprays of flowers rather than the big heads.

Also, as a security measure - pyrocantha / firethorn - evergreen, with creamy flowers, orange berries in winter and inch-long spikes!