Does this exist, or is it all in my imagination?!

[WhatASillyPredicament]

Hi, I'm looking to plant a border along a fence boundary. I want to do it both for privacy and decoration. I would like the plants to be fast growing to 6 foot in height, provide plenty of privacy, while not pushing against the fence I share with my neighbours. Does such a thing exist? I want to plant then in a line so no gaps etc.

Could you put a trellis up and train a clematis to grow over it? I don't know how quickly they grow though.

Thanks, just a narrow border and just wanting to plant in ground.

What kind of depth is the border? Is it reasonably substantial if you don't want it to press up to the fence it will need to not be planted too close.

Sorry I should have said that the border is only small, we still need room for dcs to play.

I know it's not popular with some people but I think photonia red robin may work. Will get quite tall quite quickly and it's not something that is hard to prune - it doesn't go woody quickly. Also has colour interest. Can be bought at various heights

With all these suggestions, how will you manage pruning the back of the not-hedge, so it doesn’t press into the fence?

@MereDintofPandiculation no idea, hedge is fine as long as doesn't take up too much space.

@wwyd2021medicine thank you, i'm googling it now.

@wwyd2021medicine I really love that, do you know why some people don't like it? I think it'll be particularly popular with my dc, red being their favourite colour!

You don’t want a hedge, so shrubs are out. Bamboo would work but it’s invasive so you’d need to dig a trench, and sink potted bamboo in.

The other alternative is an evergreen climber, although this will try to move next door, so you’d need a trellis on your side. Clematis Montana is pretty and fast growing but a bit of a monster. I have a lovely evergreen clematis with tiny yellow spring flowers that I grow summer flowering deciduous clematis through. It’s up a wall though, not a fence.

Bamboo. I have the black one. Tallest probably at 10 ft. Can be thinned out. Roots are compact so not invasive

@WhatASillyPredicament
Is the fench it will grow against chain link or wooden panel type?

Fench???
Fence.

I'd be fine with a hedge after seeing some different types, thank you all for lots of wonderful suggestion; I'm going to work my way through them all.

@Crumpleton it is wooden panels with gaps in.

I have a very new Buddleiah Dark Knight , , no flowers on it yet but I'm willing it along
And I've sowed some runner beans for quick results height (in pots ) and flowers , with hopefully beans at the end !

Bamboo is wonderful and there are so many types.
Just make sure that the variety is 'clump forming.'
If the label says that it produces runners, leave well alone or put it in a thick heavy pot.

Photinia red robin was going to be my suggestion too. Easy, grows quickly, happy to be pruned. People don't tend to like it as it's absolutely everywhere and a bit dull....but it would definitely do the job you're looking for.

Photinia red robin

oh that is pretty .

I have a cottoneaster , it has berries in autumn for the birds but its a spiney little plant that is not forgiving to your skin

Privet grows very slowly, IME.

If you have small children, not yew, the berries are poisonous. I like red robin too, my neighbours are growing some into a hedge along the front, it's pretty quick for an evergreen. But you could grow annual or deciduous climbers for the summer until it fills out.

I would definitely go for pyracantha. You can buy it already at 6feet quite cheaply. It is really easy to prune. Does not need any special treatment. If you want a hedge effect buy all the same colour. I prefer all different berries. The blackbirds love them. It won’t push against the fence, but if you plant it with a gap you can prune behind it with secateurs wearing very thick gardening gloves.

if you want to have colour the evergreen rose banksia Lutea is ideal.

The Photinia Red Robin gets a vote from me too. Easy to prune, provides year round foliage and is reasonably self sufficient.

Oops just double checked and the spikey plant we have is a Pyracantha not a cottoneaster .

Pyracantha is a great boundary plant, but not if children might fall in it.