Side Return Ideas - Evergreen Cover in Planters

[BloxTown]

Hi all
We’re looking to make our wide return into a sort of outside room. We’ll be using pots / planters and want some , preferably evergreen, ideas to cover up the fence and various pipes etc. It’s E / SE facing so loses sun quite quickly in afternoon. Keen for quick growth / solutions to make an immediate impact. Thanks !

 

[Tetters]

Welcome to the forums @BloxTown

I'm afraid the words ''immediate'' and ''gardening'' don't really go together. The first thing to consider is the planting conditions. To create green space there and cover fences and walls, you need to provide future planting with a decent amount of soil/compost and nutrition to thrive and grow. Any above ground planters and pots need to be raised in order to provide good drainage, and access to a water supply is a must.
If there is any place there where you can provide a growing area in the ground, you will have a better chance of growing some good cover for fences and walls. For a faster impact (not instant) I would suggest starting with a variegated Ivy teamed with a Parthenocissus aka Virginia creeper. The variegated Ivy is less rampant than the plain green arboreal sort, and should not cause damage to any structure. Although Parthenocissus is deciduous it self clings to walls and fences and does not cause structural damage. Both of these plants are very happy to grow in a partly shaded area. The vivid colour of the latter in the autumn makes up for the loss of leaves in the winter.
That then would be where I would start.

 

[BloxTown]

thanks for the welcome and for the reply! well aware I am impatient but felt I had to mention it! there is no opportunity to go into the ground - how big a planter / pot would the above require ? I can sort out drainage and water supply quite easily I think !

 

[Tetters]

When it comes to planters, get as big as you can get. Remember that drainage is really important, as is quality of planting medium. A slow release fertiliser makes things easier, and a really good one is Osmocote. Always read the instructions and follow them to the letter for optimum results. Stand your planters on ''feet'' - just a small block/brick will do, it doesn't have to be posh.
This kind of sensible preparation will get you some good results as quickly as is sensible.

If you grow these two then as a background, they will enhance anything else you put in front of them.

 

[Tetters]

If you like them, you could try conifers in pots, but take care when choosing them. The ones that grow ''up'' instead of ''out'' aka ''fastigiate or columnar'' would be best. Taxus baccata fastiagata (yew) is lovely ....don't eat the berries!!
Once you have this kind of planting in place, colour the scheme up with something like trailing petunias each spring to bring it all to life.
Hopefully that may get you started. Happy gardening

 

[BloxTown]

If you like them, you could try conifers in pots, but take care when choosing them. The ones that grow ''up'' instead of ''out'' aka ''fastigiate or columnar'' would be best. Taxus baccata fastiagata (yew) is lovely ....don't eat the berries!!
Once you have this kind of planting in place, colour the scheme up with something like trailing petunias each spring to bring it all to life.
Hopefully that may get you started. Happy gardening

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wow - thank you, lots of ideas there! berries might be an issue with my dogs - will check it out!

 

[Tetters]

There are LOADS more ideas if you should want any. Honeysuckle likes shade,and so does Clematis. There are some climbing roses that don't mind shade as well - the possibilities are endless.
The very very important bit is giving the plants quality soil/compost, food, water and space! oh yes, and personal TLC

 

[BloxTown]

feel free to keep them coming! having to double check some as we have dogs and they tend to eat things .....

 

[Tetters]

I shall bear that in mind. We also have dogs - they usually stick to eating grass, but you never know....
I'll send you some more ideas after you post some ''after pictures'' of your efforts. I will, maybe, even dish out some marks out of ten