Ideas on what to do with garden wall (pic included)

[Avocadoseed]

Newish house and wanting to make the front garden look more appealing. We have this wall currently to separate us and next door which is very boring so I was thinking maybe growing ivy or anything evergreen over it. I don’t have the money to get a planter or build one currently so I thought a climber would be more cost effective. Does anyone have any ideas on what would look nice? Something that flowers might look lovely. I’m not sure if it’s the right time of year to even do anything about it now! For context the front of the house is white, any advice would be fab

What direction does it face? How much sun does it get and at what times of day? Ivy is so invasive and can be quite damaging to buildings (neighbours across the street from us are currently getting ivy removed from the front of their house and it's a big job) that personally I wouldn't ever purposefully plant it, but that's just my preference. What about a row of low evergreen shrubs? Sarcococca (sweet box) for example is fairly low maintenance and smells AMAZING in the winter months.

Although I've just seen from the picture that the planting space is very narrow. Does the soil go down deep? Maybe a winter flowering clematis?

I have a similar dilemma but my wall is bigger and uglier! It's breeze block.
I painted it years ago and that made a huge improvement. I'd suggest painting it a terracotta colour then fix some wires to it. Then you can grow something nicer than ivy.

Thank you for the response @MunsteadWood, yes I did think that about ivy so that won’t be a good idea and yes the gap is very narrow so planting won’t be possible unless I build a planter so a pot would be better as it can be hidden. Weirdly as I was just googling I did see a winter flowering clematis and I think that would be perfect! The front is west facing so I hope that would be okay.

@Flup ah it’s annoying isnt it! Great idea about painting it beforehand, I think that’s definitely an option

Don't do ivy, do a wonderful flowering evergreen Jasmine. Perfect time of year to plant, as well. In no time the wall will be covered. Go for Star Jasmine which has tiny white fragrant flowers and nice thick green leaves. You might have to trim it every so often if it overhangs your neighbours (if it bothers them)

I'd paint it white and put tubs along if. Geraniums for summer. Tulips and daffodils for spring. Maybe some lavender.Fuschja if it's shady.

Yes to Jasmine, would be lovely

But if it was me I'd plant 3 bare root roses (currently 15% on David Austin) and next year you'll have lovely flowers for cutting for the house

I'd go white roses as the front of your house is white (or another colour for a contrast)

I 2nd painting it white then gets some coloured pots and put some evergreens in them, you can buy plastic plant pots from B&m, big ones are under a fiver

How about pyracantha. It's a pretty (if spikes) wall shrub. Orange berries in autumn and white flowers in spring/summer (?) - you can keep trimming them to keep a nice dense shape.

If you are on a tight budget and not sure what to plant, I would go for annual climbers, such as nasturtiums, runner beans (which have lovely flowers in a variety of colours), sweet peas if can water them; black eyed Susan etc.
Annuals are cheap to buy as plug plants in the spring, or you can plant the seeds - also cheap to do.
You could plant a variety all along the wall, or change them each year. Not much looking after needed other than to provide a bit of netting or support; no pruning/getting out of hand/ too big, as they die off in the winter. No deep roots to worry about.
If you don't like them one year just have change for the next year.

In the summer I wandered past a house with an evergreen jasmine covering the front wall, with a scented climbing white rose scrambling through it- it looked and smelt absolutely amazing and I’ve been wanting to replicate it ever since! If you’re on a tight budget it’s a great time of year to buy bare root roses which are much reasonably priced. Ebay and Wilko are good for plant bargains too.

If you don’t paint the wall, I’d go for white flowers. Clematis Avalanche has white flowers early spring, and it’s evergreen. Mine has sunshine on it for some of the day. A white scented climbing rose trained would be another option.