Can you give me some fast growing trellis covering ideas please?

[alabasterangel]

We have an old wall, waist height, between us and our neighbour. Waist height to head height is trellis, and neighbour has a seating area right against the trellis which makes me feel really exposed. It gets sun first thing till 3ish, and the key is rapid growth. I can put troughs on the top of the wall against the trellis (the wall is wide) but don't know what to put in them. Would some morning glory seeds work? Help!

[MadSprocker]

You could plant sweet peas, but from establish seedlings, rather than seeds.

[Dogolphin]

Passion flowers grow quickly.

[alabasterangel]

Thank you. I've got loads of sweet peas elsewhere. My potted Passion flower is doing abysmally. Maybe I should move it to the trellis? Would black eyed Susan work?

[Dogolphin]

You could combine a steady growing plant, maybe a clematis, with some black eyed Susan and then have something for this year and something for next year.

[alabasterangel]

Yep that sounds like a plan. Clematis Montana is always a good reliable one?

[traviata]

How much trellis do you need the plants to cover? Many plants will quickly go UP but it takes longer to get the sideways coverage going.

I would do this;
troughs on the wall with climbing nasturtiums or Cobaea Scandens for cover this year PLUS from the ground upwards - so not in troughs - I would plant Solanum Crispum and/or clematis montana for next year.

[Titsywoo]

I'm growing clematis montana on a similar wall (shoulder height though). Planted a 30cm one in April and it is already at the top of the wall and started to grow along it so it's a good bet I think.

[Dogolphin]

My peas are growing like mad at the moment, might make a change!

[alabasterangel]

Thank you all. It an expanse of 12-15ft wide, from my waist to my head. I've currently re-positioned 3 pots of nasturtiums (from elsewhere in the garden!) but they're only at first leaf stage now, no buds yet, they're probably 8 inches high. The ledge at the top of the wall is probably 8 inches deep so it can accommodate a row of pots or troughs which aren't too deep. Currently no bed under that wall, it's lawn to the edge, but could dig one easily enough.

Sounds like both short term and longer term measures are best!

[shovetheholly]

Yes - I'd combine some annuals for this year with something that will continue to grow over the longer term. You might want to consider an evergreen as this will give you cover during winter months too. I'd put permanent climbing plants into a bed rather than a pot - they mostly do better like that.

[bookbook]

agree with shove - if its possible, you would need the clematis montana in the ground - they are a big plant once established, not sure if it could do really well in a trough on a wall

[Dogolphin]

Cucumbers and runner beans might be fun amongst the flowers! Cucumbers have big leaves so would screen well. For long term honey suckle can give really good screening.