What can I plant along this back wall?

[Tiptaptoe]

This is the bottom end of my garden and I’d like to plant something/things across or in front of the back wall. The garden is full south facing, lots of summer sun but obviously whatever is planted will be facing north. There are some old conifer type stumps in the ground, I wouldn’t want conifers as they are so dense dark looking.

Any suggestions? It’s my first garden so I am a novice. We are not overlooked at the back so that’s no issue but it would be nice to have something to look out at there other than just a plain wall. I was wondering about some bushes or even small trees.

Check out a suitable clematis variety which will see you the summer season and romp along your fence and bring some colour and foliage.

Hydrangea petiolaris

We have this climbing on another fence/wall. I think it’s clematis but pretty established. Not sure how long it takes to get this big.

A lot of clematis grows afresh every year. You hack it down and cut it right back to 1m and off it goes again the next year. Some with huge flowers in glorious colours, e.g. Burma Star (I think).

Rhubarb, hostas and any other shade-loving plants.

Clematis was my first thought. There are several types - ask for advice at your local garden centre or nursery. Clematis texensis Princess Diana has a long flowering season. I'd avoid hydrangea petiolaris - it grows huge.

Hydrangea takes a few years to get established. Clematis will be quicker. Have you dug down to see what the soil quality is like?

I rather like the wall - it's smart and gives the garden a hint of formality. A climber would seem to counteract its style somewhat, I think.

I would trim back the depth of the taller plants on the left. Complement the curve of the wall with a curved border at the end to draw the eye across the garden to give the impression of greater width.

A tree or larger shrub would work well off centre especially with a feathery canopy for a bit of softness- an Acer, or Amelanchier... or a more wide spreading dwarf crab apple, cherry or rowan. Choose a variety and root stock that doesn't grow too tall.
Even an Aucuba japonica variegata or Rozannie might be a good choice here (female varieties for winter berries), or Magnolia Stenata.

Adding a stepping stone path will lead the eye to the features in the border. (See design upload).
Add in some nepeta, white mophead hydrangea, and some heucheras (for year-round colour), or some box balls or smaller ornamental grasses.

Swapping the tree for a striking water feature such as a tiered bird bath, and swapping some of the shrubs for pea gravel, pebbles and larger rocks whilst keeping a few prominent low shrubs would be a very low maintenance option that still offers lots of interest through the overall structure.

Ooh thank you!

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It’s clematis armandii

So if this bit is mostly going to looked at from a window would it be best to have it look interesting in winter? What about a Mahonia? Or viburnum?

Or skimmia would like it if shady, or hydrangeas, fuschia, pieris, camelia, rhododendron, azalea could all be considered. You would need to look at soil pH as some need ericaceous compost. I would also look at fatsia japonica. These shrubs will need minimal attention once planted. .

I've got a pink camellia against my north facing wall. It has a really good shape, is evergreen and is gorgeous in spring.

Star Jasmine

I’d have several different things like the picture above. A variegated holly for winter. A crab apple tree for spring and summer. And some hebe at the bottom for year round interest.