fig tree

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

EDIT; Cross-posted with you Dave. Think my main problem in the garden here is the gales. They are rather frequent here - and I'm rather used to having to put things back in position in the garden at noticeable intervals and I simply can't have anything "lightweight"...darn it. Hence the problem - as I'm in process of creating a West Country garden as best I can in West Wales.

I didn't recommend anything 'lightweight.' At 500' up on a hill, I don't do lightweight. I'm saying you need structure on boundaries which can filter the wind.

Holm oak is a very common windbreak plant at the seaside. Anywhere coastal along the West Country's entire northern coastline will have exactly the same gales as you experience.

You seem to think your situation is odd, but apart from naff soil, also present in Devon, though not where I am, fortunately, it's probably more favourable than many other locations, judging by the amount of early potatoes grown nearby.

Farway

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Thinking last night that ivy, for instance, would "fit the bill" perfectly at that point (say with a bit of trellis on top of the wall to take it up somewhat higher)

- but I've come to positively loathe ivy over the last couple of year (it's gone from feeling a bit "wild"/mysterious and sort of thing found in semi-wild type gardens etc and done by choice to "It's blimmin' everywhere here......cheap....boring......boring"

.

There are some very colourful ivies around, not all are dull green & boring. nad they are tough, plus good for creepy crawlies & birds. I once had wrens nesting in mine