Star Jasmine - is it possible? Or other climber?

[HoneyBee1973]

Complete novice here! I'd be so grateful for advice.

At the side of our victorian semi we have a wall with lots white plastic pipes that are an eyesore. It would be amazing to train a climbing plant up the side to detract from or camouflage it a bit.

The problem is that I'd need to remove pavers and the soil isn't great (we are in London if that makes any difference!). I think pots wouldn't cut it for the height I'm looking for? Ideally I'd like the climber to grow 3 metres or more.

The wall is south facing, gets a lot of sun all day. I would get a tension wire thing. I thought maybe Star Jasmine might fare better in our shallow, poor soil than other climbers? I could treat the soil with something first and plant after the summer?

If anyone has ideas or experience with something similar I'd be so grateful to hear about it. Thank you very much!

The red marks are where I would lift pavers for the plants- I really don’t know the soil quality under there but suspect it is fairly poor. The blue is potentially for the tension wire trellis. Am I way off the mark ? 🫣
Thanks so much!

I think it would struggle unless it was planted a foot or so away from the wall - right up tight like that it wouldn’t do well even with improved soil as it would be in a rain shadow and dry as dust. Do you use the pink doors as a garage and need them fully open for access or could you plant in front of one of them?

Would star jasmine survive in a raised planter sort of set up? It could have plenty of soil then. It would look so beautiful.

Do you put a car in the garage? I mean, how far out from the wall can you go?

Crap soil can be improved.

I would strongly advise you against messing about with the ground so close to your house. There will almost certainly be drainage and damp proofing issues , you have no idea what other pipes and cables may be underneath.

Even if you do dig a hole there, you are expecting a plant to live in what will be rubble possibly leavened with a little London clay. Anything tough enough to survive ( and I am not going to tell you) will have roots which will not be friendly to you foundations.

Honestly your house looks really attractive and well maintained just as it is. I don’t think the casual observer would notice the plastic pipes, and if they did, they would think ‘they have running water! And electricity, that’s nice.’

Thank you very much for the replies!
@olderbutwiser I didnt realise that being right up to the wall would be an issue - rain shadow is a good point!
@U53rn8m3ch8ng3 Raised planters are a possibility, thanks!
@NotoriousRhubarb We use the garage all the time unfortunately
@Allthegoodnamesarechosen I hadnt thought that planting might mess about with damp proofing, yikes

Thanks guys, I think I might be creating a headache for myself. Maybe I'll just stick with the artificial buxus plants I have!! Really appreciate the replies. xx

I have star jasmine growing (and doing well) in a tiny raised bed on top of tarmac (which I broke up). However, this is not right up against the house, which I think makes a big difference. Do you have open soil on the other side of the pink garage doors (left of the picture)? If so, I would plant your star jasmine there, and with time and patience you can train it over the pink doors and up where the pipes are.

I have star jasmine (3) in fairly large pots along our fence. They’ve been in for about 8 years now and we have refreshed the soil a few times and try and remember to feed regularly but they seem to cope fine. I’d probably do that over planting into the soil in your position. I can send a photo if you’d like? Obv only works if you can spare enough space: are you using the garage for a car so you need the full width or more for general storage? I agree that the house looks lovely without. But I personally always think houses look even nicer with some greenery and star jasmine is great for being slow growing and manageable; evergreen as well as that amazing scent.

Trying to keep climbers/roses/trees alive in pots is a nightmare. I can kind of see what you mean about the pipes but they’re really not that bad. Maybe some interesting architectural cladding might be a solution?

I have a star Jasmine growing in a half wine barrel up an east wall. I deal with watering using an olla. That might be an option for you. Mine is doing really well.

It’s really not. So long as the pots are huge and robust.

We have star jasmine in a pot and it’s very happy. I water regularly and it’s grown very well.

Jasmine smells divine though!

What about planting it in a larger planter where your little clipped box thingie is now, at the front by your door, and train it around the corner to that wall?