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Climbing Plants Hide A Lot of Fence for a Small Footprint
In many cosy gardens, the vertical surface area of fence is larger than the soil surface!
Putting a hedge in front of a fence has the advantage of keeping the fence itself free for maintenance, and there is no risk of plants getting too heavy and shortening its lifespan.
But in a smaller garden, that means sacrificing too much floor space.
Your main options for covering a fence with plants are climbers and “wall shrubs”.
Best Climbing Plants for Covering a Fence
When covering a fence, most people want evergreen plants that are reasonably quick growers.
- Trachelospermum jasminoides, commonly known as Star Jasmine. Does very well on North facing fences under open sky.
- Trachelospermum asiaticum, Asiatic Jasmine. Most people consider it slightly less attractive than Star Jasmine due to its smaller flowers, but it’s the better choice for the coldest inland Northern & Scottish regions
- “Evergreen” honeysuckle varieties. Honeysuckle is famous for its flowers, but Mint Crisp also has lovely mottled leaves to maintain interest almost year round; depending on your region, evergreen honeysuckles may be semi-evergreen, meaning they have leaves for most of the year.
- Clematis armandii, with its large, lush leaves, is the best evergreen clematis for hiding things. Other evergreen clematis species like Clematis cirrhosa ‘Jingle Bells’ will also work: the leaves aren’t as lovely, but they do flower in Winter.
Does Ivy Destroy Wooden Fences?
Despite it being a great choice for hiding brick and metal, most people choose not to grow Ivy on a wooden fence due to its structurally invasive growth habit.
But the argument against growing ivy on wooden fences is not as simple as ivy causing damage.
Ivy tends to have an “overall preserving” effect on wooden fences: fusing with them, growing a fairly sturdy cage of woody vines through and over them.
The evergreen leaves protect from the elements, and the strong vines support the parts of the fence at the same time as pushing in between them.
As long as the ivy is healthy and trimmed a bit to reduce top-heavy weight and to allow light down to the base, this living arrangement will outlast fence panels without ivy.
The problem comes when the ivy is cut back to the base or killed, and the whole thing collapses.
Best Wall Shrubs for Covering a Fence
These woody shrubs or small trees have good ornamental value, and respond well to being trained on wires up against a vertical surface in much the same way as a climber.
Pyracantha – needs to be pruned into “storeys” tied flat along wires as an espalier to get the full flowering and then bright berries effect, which is simply one of the best.
Here’s an unpruned specimen, still looks great:
- Cotoneasters – The most famous is Rockspray Cotoneaster, staple of urban plantings, but if you have support wires then you may as well use the superior franchetii or simsonii in your garden.
- Mimosa, Acacia dealbata – ideal for making the most out of a hot South facing fence, prune after the last frost to keep it in bounds.
I Can’t Use Plants: How to Hide My Fence Without Them?
If you can’t use plants to beautify your fence, that leaves either painting / staining it, or fixing a covering onto it.
Painting or Staining a Fence Black
Cheap and easy to DIY.
Filmmaker Mark Spencer has the world’s best video introduction to staining a fence black, which gives a dark charcoal grey finish.
This dark, natural colour of burnt wood is a winner that works with pretty much any planting scheme because it goes so well with most plants: both green leaves, and really any of the common ornamental bark colours, from grey to orange-red.
Mark left his concrete posts unpainted, which looks great contrasted with the black; from the corner of your eye, they are like tree trunks.
Covering an Ugly Fence with a Nice Fence!
Cladding the existing fence with nicer material is more expensive, and more transformative!
Horizontal Roofing Slats
Simply, effective, a tidy modern look at a DIY level most people can manage:
Or an even smarter professional job with a hip light strip on top:
Faux greenery panels
If you like plastic plants, we are not here to judge your taste: you’ve heard it all before.
It’s great for renters, who can put it up for their lease, then take it down and move it to their next home. Plastic leaves aren’t meant to be inspected and admired like a crisp hosta, they are for a green “natural texture” backdrop as you focus on your favourite meal, book, or person. Green is scientifically soothing, and we all know how nice a sooth is.