Problem solved - Evergreens to cover a problem fence frugally

Hi

My garden is wider than it is long. It also has a horrendous 6 foot high wooden fence all the way round it. Disguising it is an ongoing problem in the winter particularly at the back of the garden where I can't use shrubs as the back fence only has a shallow border in front of it which, as its the sunniest place in our N facing garden is needed for roses! There are also too many climbers on it to paint it.

I have a clematis Montana on it and although its covered a lot of fence as it loses its leaves in winter.

I have also had various Ivy's which can look really nice but  they invade the border below where I like to grow things!I swear they wait until I'm not looking then grows another 4 foot in either direction tangling up with other climbers and smothering plants in my borders.

Last year I've put in a lot of lovely climbing roses which are so far only a couple of feet high but should take off in 2018. So my job over the last few days has been to trim back climbers I want less of such as the Montana and Ivy to make space for the roses and to put in more wires for their support and begin to train them on the wire.

I've also put in some Boston Ivy - Parthenocissus Tricuspidata Veitchii - which has amazing red leaves in autumn that look particularly spectacular when wet. It only went in last year but has shoots up to 3 foot high so I'm hopeful for 2018.

All this - and still ugly bare patches in winter. Wish I could have a lovely brick wall!

So being a frugal gardener  - how can I solve the problem.

I'vealready put in some self seeded cotoneaster Horizontalis I found in another part of the garden - but they are tiny at the moment. I shall have a hunt around for other suitable seedlings.

I've also pinched some cuttings of a white buddleia last week and have popped them in a pot. I am hoping I can put some of these into the borders in front of the fence as they can be semi evergreen.

I have a Lonicera Nitida which is continually breeding babies nearby - this would be evergreen and would cover a bit of the fence if I can keep it back narrow enough so it doesn't take up much of the border - I shall dig one of the babies up at the weekend  - it would be a good time to transplant it. 

I also have a mature Trachelospermum Jasminoides in the front garden. I've had it about 15 years - its evergreen but has some red colour in the leaves in autumn and winter which is nice. It also has strongly scented white flower in summer. Its easy to keep under control.  According to the RHS website propagation is by layering or semihardwood cuttings. I think I'll try both! Another job for the weekend.


Will this year be the one where my fence looks nice in winter? Wish me luck!



Take care
Caroline
xx






To learn more about me and Caroline's Cottage Gardens please visit my website. https://sites.google.com/site/carolinescottagegardens/

Bringing the pleasure of gardens into your home

Hi there

I've been looking for a cottage garden painting for ages to put up in my house - but they are a little too idyllic for my taste.  I've just found the one above and love it - I'm ordering a print of it for my wall at home and the colours give me such a lift!

Yesterday we had an amazing morning looking at the paintings of a local artist Rachel Vollerthun. She uses colour very much as we use colour when we choose plants, mixing and blending and trying things out.

I particularly loved the paintings she had involving flowers and the wonderful colours she uses. The one above seems captures the beauty of a garden but with out some of the potential tweeness of some old cottage garden paintings. I just love it. She has some prints for sale of the above painting and many other originals and prints for you to enjoy and perhaps even buy on her website.

http://www.vollerthun.com/


I came home, got out some inktense pens and tried to recreate some of her ideas. I have a long way to go but so enjoyed it.

Here are some more of her paintings I loved. If you like them too please do share them with your friends via facebook, etc.

When there is not a lot of colour in the garden what a lot of pleasure I get from such pictures. I hope you do too.

Love
Caroline

Key words Colour Garden "Colour schemes", paint, beautiful, "cottage garden" Design "garden design" "working with colour" art Cambridgeshire Gardener "oil painting"