What can I plant to screen this fence (pic)? Tall grass?

[jenthehen]

Any ideas what I could use to hide this fence? It’s my neighbour’s but painting it or having anything attached to it is out of the question. South facing, well draining soil but on a steep slope above a 6ft wall. I know it’s not ideal conditions but I want to keep my white hydrangea Annabelle’s as I love them but need something either behind them or between them. I was thinking a narrow, tall grass or something similar….? It’s quite a tricky site to work on and as the neighbour has put a curved top fence (In hideous dark brown) I can’t really put up trellis etc …any advice much appreciated.

I quite like the look of that fence but you could grow clumping bamboo or passionflower grows very fast and if you put wires up will grow along them.

I also quire like the look of it, I’d replace the other fence panel to match

Bamboo in pots to stop it going where it shouldn't. Will work well with your stones.

Love Annabelle too :)

horticulture.co.uk/bamboo/containers/

If you'd like a more traditional climber, then opt for an evergree because otherwise you'll be annoyed by the fence in winter. You can stretch wires across the fence, pinned in place either side if you can't attach directly to it.

Two different climbers together often work well imo, you could choose one for winter interest and one for its flowers or scent perhaps.

Boston ivy, passionflower, jasmine, rambling rose, clematis...

The fence is fine, would look better if all the panels were matching and the tops were level, but it's not awful!

I would focus on getting more planting in the gravel, it looks a bit like a spoil heap at the moment, some sprawly plants like prostrate rosemary at the bottom of the gravel would soften the area and draw the eye down.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far. I feel better that you don’t all seem to find it as bad as I think it is. Does anyone know what they might have used to paint it? I could paint the end panel to match. I also like the idea of planting Rosemary lower down…or possibly lavender. I’m reluctant to grow anything along the fence as I feel the neighbour wouldn’t appreciate anything growing through in their side.

It's difficult to judge the space, but I think grasses dotted between the hydrangea's would be really lovely.

For a narrower space Calamagrostis is more upright and compact, but will still give height.
www.rhs.org.uk/plants/72074/calamagrostis-x-acutiflora-karl-foerster/details

Miscanthus is another grass that would look lovely, and create "fountains" with pretty seed heads if you have a bit more space between the fence and the hydrangea's. This miscanthus has reddish flowers that fade to pinky-cream, but there are many different varieties.
www.rhs.org.uk/plants/163836/miscanthus-sinensis-ferner-osten-/details

I do like the look of the Miscanthus and think it would be lovely to cover the concrete posts.

Sounds like you really don't get on with your neighbour! I think they look quite nice too. I can't really tell how much space is between the panels and the hydrangeas, but if there is enough you could plant posts with wires across (a bit in front of the fence, so nothing would touch the fence) and plant some climbers along them. You could have an evergreen clematis like armandii, for example, which would be a lovely background to the hydrangeas.

If you have a bit more room you could put an espaliered tree in front of it too.

@jenthehen why is there a gap between them?

As they're bowed, are they entirely in your neighbours property?

Can you paint your side of the fence if you hate the colour? (I'm not sure of fence protocol if you didn't put it up and if you can paint it? I'd like to think you can?)

I would go for calamagrostis or stipa gigantea. The clumping habit would provide a nice backdrop for the hydrangea, whilst the fronds would soften the panels. I would paint the pale panels to match the darker ones too.

They are completely my neighbour’s fence. It’s just easier not to involve them. I think the bit that looks like a gap is actually a fence post.

@CatherinedeBourgh the neighbours are just a bit awkward (previous neighbours of 15 years were lovely!).
Your suggestions are great and would love espaliered trees but it’s high up and above where we park so I’d be worried that the wind would make them unstable. The clematis and post idea would work but they may not like it climbing over or through the fence.

What about something like this compact Orange Blossom? Evergreen and would look lovely with your white hydrangea -

www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/choisya-white-dazzler-5l-pot.html?utm_term=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CjwKCAiAmJGgBhAZEiwA1JZoliN-SFEXsx9kn_seLwMpD2vl9j7cRZb2OPtnQbakWGhzHiBh-t8ephoCL30QAvD_BwE

Then at the front of the border I'd plant these Erigeron. I have them in my garden. They're a bulletproof perennial, love full sun and will trail down and flower almost constantly in summer and autumn. They will love that well drained slope

www.sarahraven.com/products/erigeron-karvinskianus?gclid=CjwKCAiAmJGgBhAZEiwA1JZolj7ZxPNB5A93fS1qIC2V7v0AamknkX2oaOnn2zf7SoPs1dyxqvtC3hoCBp0QAvD_BwE

@LucyLoopyLu they do sound like a lovely combination. The idea of something evergreen is appealing and the little Erigeron would be quite delicate.

If you're popping other flowers I'd definitely choose a creeping/trailing one to fall over that wall - will look bloomin gorgeous

@ComeTheFckOnBridget thats what came to my mind. Something planted along the edge that will trail down. Would look gorgeous all the way along. I have a very flat garden and would love some different variations of height in it. Some lovely steps to grow some rock plants etc.

Me too! The odd unpainted panel looks far worse than nicely stained dark brown ones.

to The OP Morrisons have just started bringing in their shrubs, they have some that are £2.39 each. Some like Pyracantha grow quite talll and dense and are very hardy and covered in flowers then berries. I also
bought a climbing Hydrangea for the same price which has small
white flowers.

Not sure how long you have had them there, but hydrangeas absolutely hate sun,/well drained/south facing.... the clue is in the name. I personally use both tall grasses and bamboo, although the none invading type, I keep it in pots,so I can move it around. This is to hide a rather ugly block of flats. I agree with others, the fence is attractive, but appears to be badly erected,gaps, not a good idea, especially as you said it is windy. If, according to the Deeds, this fence is solely neighbours responsible,it needs sorting first.

Bear in mind that tall miscanthus will die back in winter, although lovely during the summer months and Autumn. I’d plant a couple of Viburnum an evergreen variety with early spring, scented flowers. They are easily pruned to keep in a smallish size.

If you could move your hydrangeas forward, a buddleia hedge along the fence would be colourful and robust. It would also provide some shade for the hydrangeas.

Personally, I’d not want to add much more height to the fence - the wall is 6ft and the fence is similar height in addition, so must be 11ft it so from your ground level. I’d not want to add to that height.

A gravel garden theme with miscanthus, interspersed with alium, verbena boniarensis and achillea would be nice, soften the wall edge with prostrate rosemary?
Mediterranean pants & herbs would also like the conditions - but might not be tall enough.

As previous poster said, hydrangeas like plenty of water, and the south-facing sunny adpect plus the wind won’t desperately suit them - at the very least it’ll will mean they’ll need loads of extra watering and plenty humus in the soil. However as you love them then... the spent flower heads could look nice in the winter with the grey bleached- out miscanthus, particularly interspersed with evergreen rosemary etc.

You might as well move these hydrangea now because they will be very unhappy.

I wouldn’t move the hydrangeas, if your going to, until the soil has warmed up after Easter.