Your garden fence looks too boring? Then just green it. You can find out here which plants are suitable for greening the fence.
Fences are essential for delimiting the garden, but they are not always an inviting sight. What could be more obvious than upgrading the fence with the right plants and creating a natural transition to the neighboring property. But not every plant is suitable for fence greening. In the following, we will tell you which plants you can use to achieve a quick green fence and thus ensure a colorful eye-catcher and practical privacy protection.
Choosing the right plants
Plants suitable for greening fences can be divided as follows:
| Plant Groups | Examples | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing Plants | • Vineyard • Virginia creeper • Clematis | Climbing plants have vines and can climb massive fences like chicken wire. |
| Creepers | • honeysuckle • hops • knotweed | Climbing plants wind their way up vertical fence posts and entangle the material to be planted. |
| Spreader | • Climbing Roses • Firethorn • Winter Jasmine | Spreaders hold on to the trellis with their spines. Support must be provided on the fence by means of horizontal climbing aids. |
| Self climber | • Ivy • Virginia Creeper • Climbing Hydrangea | Self climbers have clinging roots that they use to attach themselves. Dense fences or string support are required. |
The classic: Climbing plants for green fences
Climbing plants usually grow quickly up the fence and adapt to the contours. When choosing plants, it depends on the nature of the fence. Different plants bring a lot of weight and are not suitable for a light chain link fence, for example. The following climbing plants are suitable for all types of fences:
- Nasturtium
- Heart Flower
- Clematis
- Vetches
These plants in turn need high and stable fences:
- Wild Wine
- Knotweed
- Hops
- Wisteria
The most popular climbing plants for a colorful green fence
• Morning Glory:
If the fence needs to be greened as quickly as possible, the morning glory is ideal. The seeds are sown in spring and just a few weeks later the plants are growing up the fence, offering a real firework of colours. At first the flower appears pink. After a few days it turns bright blue.
Planting on south-facing fences is ideal. A compass helps to determine the cardinal direction. The morning glory needs a bright location and lots of sun for lush flowering. With regular watering and fertilizing, the perennial climbing plants can reach heights of up to three meters.
• Black-eyed Susan:
With its sunny yellow petals and one black eye, the black-eyed Susanne is an intense eye-catcher. A sunny and warm location for the fence to be planted is an advantage.
Regular watering and fertilizing are also required. Waterlogging is to be avoided. The climbing plants quickly grow to heights of up to two meters.
• Firethorn:
Anyone who chooses this climbing plant will be rewarded with lush flowers all summer long. Firethorns also make the fence an attractive eye-catcher in autumn. The white flowers turn into bright orange berries from October.
The evergreen shrub requires little care and is also suitable for partially shaded fences. A loose and nutrient-rich substrate is important. The plant tolerates pruning very well and can therefore be easily adjusted to the desired height and size.
How to green the different types of fences
• Greening wooden fences:
A wooden fence is preferably used to delimit garden plots. The natural material creates a harmonious transition. When planting on wooden fences, however, it should be noted that many plants can damage the wood and shorten the life of the fence. Because woody climbing plants can, for example, contribute to the formation of cracks and damage to the wood structure.
Annual herbaceous plants are therefore ideal for the wooden fence. The stems of the non-woody plants wind up the fence without causing any lasting damage.For example, these climbing plants are ideal for the wooden fence:
- Nasturtium
- Vetch
- Morning glory
- Sweet pea
The light and airy nature of the plants ensures that moisture does not accumulate and weathering is the result. You can easily grow the plants yourself from seeds. The flowers will attract birds and insects to your garden in summer. Since these are annual plants, they must be removed from the wooden fence in autumn.
• Plant plastic fences:
A plastic fence is particularly robust and durable. In addition, they do not discolour and are easy to clean. Visually, however, these limitations adapt less to the natural environment. The hobby gardener is relatively free in the choice of greenery. Woody plants can also be used. However, it should be borne in mind that dense vegetation can also lead to a build-up of moisture on plastic fences. Green algae and mold can be the result. These climbing plants are ideal for the plastic fence, for example:
- Red Honeysuckle
- Clematis
- Firethorn
- Wild Wine
A reliable privacy screen can be achieved by using the plants mentioned. Within a summer, the climbing plants usually grow to the height of the fence.
• Green aluminum fences:
A metal fence is ideal for greening, because the vertical bars offer an ideal climbing aid. Woody and heavy plants can also grow on an aluminum fence. These climbing plants are ideal for the aluminum fence:
- Ivy
- Wild Wine
- Climbing Roses
- Hydrangeas
The green metal fences offer a romantic and playful look and are also suitable as a border for seating and terraces.
An alternative: the indirect green fence
Anyone who does not want to green their fences directly can alternatively create an attractive green strip directly in front of the fence. This can beautify the view of the fence and create a privacy screen. To create this green border, however, a bed must first be created directly in front of the fence field. Do this as follows:
- Dig up the ground.
- Remove weeds, roots and stones.
- Upgrade soil.
- Flat area.
- Select plants.
- Dig planting holes.
- Place plants.
- Substraterefill.
- Press the soil well.
- Water the plants.
A sunny location for the fence area is a prerequisite for most flowering plants. A few hours of sunlight per day are the basis for lush flowering and he althy growth. You should also choose the growth height of the plants according to the height of the fence.
| Plant | Growth | Flower Color |
|---|---|---|
| Peasant Jasmine | two to three meters | white |
| Bridal Pierce | 1.5 to two meters | white |
| Barberry | 50 to 80 centimeters | yellow |
| Forsythia | two to three meters | yellow |
| Buddleia | one to two meters | white, yellow, purple, pink |
| Snowball | two to four meters | white, pink |
| Mother of pearl bush | two to 3.5 meters | reddish |
The planting of shrubs has the advantage that a natural privacy screen can be set up within a short time. Shrubs tolerate pruning well and can be individually adjusted in shape and size.
Anyone who decides to green with flowering plants can also use the following types:
- Sunflower
- Hollyhock
- Larkspur
But ornamental grasses such as bamboo or reeds are also a way of concealing fences and being protected from prying eyes.