A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 Ideas to enhance my fence

Hi All ,
Last year I installed a long white plastic picket fence(4 ft high,common in Home Depot), about 200 ft across the rear of my property. I wanted to create a transition zone between myself and the forest. I am looking at it all winter now and I am imagining some type of plantings to either go in front of it that will spread or to grow along (on) the fence . Any ideas or PHOTOS would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

One plant I would consider using is the Hollyhock...it looks great in front of a white fence and it will reseed. They are also nice and tall. As far as plants that will spread, I'd look into the Sundrop family (Oenethera?)..they spread like CRAZY! There are yellow and pink ones, but the yellow can get taller. There are also a few vines that can grow along the fence, like Autumn Clematis and Silver Lace Vine.

I have a chain link fence that I grow hyacinth bean vines across......They really soften the entire fence a lot.

hi there,
i am primarily an indoor gardener, so when i do go outside it's quick and easy. one thing i thought of is those wildflower seed cans that you can sprinkle or throw out wherever you wish them to flower. they come in all kinds, like some attract birds or some are great for cut flowers. i lined my long dusty driveway one year, and they were fabulous. plus they are usually low maintenance and will reseed, so you can enjoy them year after year. good luck, and let us know what you decide!

First off, is it a shaded area or sunny?

For a vine look, how about honeysuckle or climbing roses, just train them to grow along the fence.

For flowers, I do like the wildflower idea. I am sowing alot of wildflower seed come spring. I like the low maintanence, and they come back year after year.

If you want a flowering shrub look, you can go with Butterfly bushes, Weigela, Mock Orange,Crepe Myrtles, Rhodies, lilacs, Forsythia, Azaleas, or evergreen mtn. laurel.

You might try putting some sort of shrub or vine against the fence, then planting flowers in front of that to give it more depth as well.

I also like Fire? Nandina, or Dwarf Burning Bush, or Purple Leaf Plum, for a non flowering shrub.


Hope this gives you some ideas. For pictures, go to one of the online nurseries, and just look at the pictures, till something catches your eye. Then you have an idea of want you would like when you go to purchase.

I planted pyracanthas along my fence. The birds love them and the berries can be used for decorations. I've only had to spray a time or two for mildew so they aren't much trouble.

BFVISION,
Tall plants: Delphiniums are pretty in front or behind..
And the holihocks!! And the ever popular Foxgloves ...
Also sunflowers, theres' pretty one's that have
several heads on them that are an orangish/yellow.
And Verbena Bonariensis

Climbing vines: Old Fashioned Sweet Peas are pretty, Clematis's
and Gloriosa Lilies are very, very pretty!

Dahlia's are so pretty, Zebrina\'s , Here\'s a BUNCH of Flowering bushes that could go in any corner

Ton's of things would look sooooooooooo cooooool.
You're very lucky to have one of those, they've been on my wish list for a long time!

Weezie

This is why this site rocks!!!!!! The help is fantastic and quick Now if the weather would only cooperate, 8 inches of snow last night. At least it matches the fence <img border="0" alt="[perplexed]" title="" src="graemlins/confused.gif" />

Gooooooooooood luck!!!
We're still deep in it up here too!!!

I'm hopin' for April!!!!

Weezie

P/S I grew those Old Fashioned Sweet Peas,
and they were absolutely heavenly!!!
So pretty and the smell, oooooooh~la~la!!!!

And I grew the Gloriosa Lilies too, and
what a show stopper, neighbors were asking
about it often..

They're on the QVC!!!

OOOO...sugar snap peas too! You can eat them right off the bush...so sweet!

I read something last year about vining small pumpkins along a fence...that would be beautiful too.

BFVISION, that foxglove looks pretty against that white fence. If you can wait a while, I'll probably have some seeds I can send you next fall.

I have black eyed susans (rudbeckias- sp?) in front of a 6 ft section of my white fence, the yellow just pops.

Here\'s some more pictures

And another

Weezie

BFV, the previous question asked was a great one, is it shaded, dappled sun,or full sun. Next question to ask yourself you say there's a woods behind that fence which means wildlife may be visiting your fence. do you want to attract any wildlife;birds,butterflies,hummingbirds,ect. Some suggestions for hummingbird attratctions are crocosmia'lucifer'they love them,penstemons,tall sedums,trumpet vine,lobelias(especially the cardinal),any trumpet shaped flower(llilies)which they draw the nectar from. Butterfly attractors;echinacea,tall sedums,butterfly weed,joe pye weed,scabiosas, garden phlox. These are just a few ideas.Aslo doen't forget your herbs. I have a cottage garden style with additions of native plants.

Foxgloves sound very interesting. I have been doing some reading on these beauties but now I have read they bloom every other year .

I greatly appreciate all the help

BFVISION

The first year it produces it's leaves the second year it produces its flowers. It is very toxic so if you have small children or animals I might not suggest it. It's life cycle is two years. Are you thinking of perennials instead?