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.

We put beech hedging all along our fences and it's lovely now -.about 8-9ft high. It takes time but you can buy 4-5ft hedging, which gives it a good head start.

Thanks everyone, the hydrangeas do need watering in very hot weather but most of the time they seem quite happy. I do like the idea of trailing plants so thank you for those Suggestions. A beech hedge would look nice but the photo doesn’t really show steep and slippy the bank is so I think maintaining the hedge would be difficult. I am going to have a read through, you’ve all been very helpful.

Its not just the water . Hydrangeas are woodland plants, they need hummus rich damp soil and dappled shade . You have them in full sun with poor, well drained soil. They are beautiful plants, just move them and make them happy.

And I’d fill that border with a mixture of evergreen and deciduous super tough shrubs with different shapes, habit, colours and textures that will cope with being cut back to fit the space , won’t mind the wind and will need very little maintenance

eg
cotoneaster, lonicera Baggesons Gold, Viburnum Eve Price, Buddleja Nana, phormium, brachyglottis Sunshine, Potentilla ( shrubby not deciduous ) , Choisya ternata if it’s not TOO windy ( not the yellow one called Sundance as it won’t like the exposure ),

All with work well some of the grasses and prostrate rosemary that Pp have suggested. They are all cheap and readily available. As the roots grown they will help bind and stabilise the soil.

Dont get one of each type of plant , repetition looks better along a border.

Very interesting a well timed thread - I need something to screen, not an ugly fence but a low one (on my NDN side , they replaced the old one , first panel is 6' but then then height lowers )
There's a bit that needs something tall but it;ll need to be in a pot .

Bamboo sounds ideal !

This is an excellent suggestion. Pollinator friendly, too.

I have bamboo in 3 large pots, to screen a small section of the neighbours French. It is expensive to buy tall enough to screen effectively. I’d buy one good mature plant, then remove from the pot and divide in into two or three. Then replant in slightly larger pots. That way it’s costing less and the bamboo has room to grow thicker. You might need to use a knife or saw to divide the roots, they’re tough.