should I plant inside and outside the fence (or both)

===>> i like that idea .... inside and out ...

one of your base problems.. in regard to the fence anyway ... lol ... is that it is a straight line ... both vertical and horizontal ...

so one of your prime goals is to break up that monotony ....

and... planting a straight line of plants.. really doesnt address that.. now does it??? .. it only replicates it ...

if you think i remember where you are.. from your other post... you are mistaken.. plz add your location on your members page ...

dont forget ... you can add some other type plants to your fence.. like clematis... or annual vines like morning glory.. etc ... to cover fence when the shrub is outside the fence ... and in a few places.. where you dont have a lot of soil to plant in ... none of those shrubs will fit in some of those areas ... so the shrub will have to be outside the fence ...

anyway ... once you start breaking up the boredom of a straight white fence.. i think you will be pleased .... but dont get all caught up in making it totally disappear ... you paid a lot of money for it.. enjoy what is left after the landscaping ...

ken

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the response.

I have a previous post that I added to and forgot about adding my zone (7b).

Thanks for the advice, I agree. I hate straight lines and corners in the garden (I have plans for the corners).

The fence was already installed when we bought the house in August '17. Previous owners paid lots of money for something improperly installed (it leans in places) and really looks awful around a gorgeous in-ground pool.

Having it replaced would require using the same material that I hate (vinyl) due to the salt air rotting wood or most other materials. So, I would be back where I am with something I hate but have to have for insurance purposes.

I do have plans for annual and other vines but that will require fence reinforcement because it won't support them. My main issue to tackle is the sheer size and visual aspects of the thing. It reminds me of a giant plastic play pen.

I am considering how much of the fence I want to be visible. I did some preliminary planning with large potted plants before I planted them elsewhere and they really did show me that the thing can look acceptable with something to accompany it.

Thanks again!

Mike

How about cladding it all with ivy?

You'd want a twiner for that fence, not a clinger like ivy.

OTOH, Babs, don't you think maintaining that narrow strip of lawn next to a pool will be difficult? Is there a groundcover that doesn't shed or require frequent pruning that would also soften the fence? Laceyvail, can't ivy cling to vinyl lattice? I've had ivy cover chain link very well. I' can't get honeysuckle or morning glories to cover lattice without adding netting or twine. Wisteria or trumpet vine surely wood, and could be spectacular, but I'd hesitate before going down that road!

Hello,

Thanks everyone for brainstorming my fence issue! Many good suggestions!

I've been gardening all of my life (a very long time) and must say that this fence and what to do with it to make it look nice is a new challenge.

Being the re purpose person that I am also enters in to the big picture. That being said, something needs to be done to the thing because it just is not acceptable the way it is.

Many issues are causing me to wonder what to do.

First, replacement is not an option since materials are limited to vinyl in my zone (that I hate and would wind up hating a new fence).

Second, the fence was not properly installed and it leans in places (not severely but it leans).

Third. Structural integrity will prevent heavy vines unless I do reinforcement (not opposed to doing it, would prefer not to). Lighter vines such as morning glory would probably work but I will probably have to re-plant each year (not something I have a problem with, but prefer not to).

I've researched clinging vines and been told that clinging vines such as ivy could destroy the fence.

So here I am. Sort of stuck with what to do after tons of reading and talking.

Softening rather than covering it with shrubs is appealing. It could be used as a backdrop for a garden. Or I could combine shrubs and the softening idea.

I keep trying to see the thing as an asset not a problem. Not an easy thing given it's size and how it looks. I am starting to look at the whole thing in smaller sections rather than one big thing.

Thanks again!

Mike

I would do something using containers. They will add attractive texture and structure, take the focus off the fence even if they don't completely hide it, and be easy to care for. If you like that idea, you can brainstorm about what to plant in them.

If you're talking about containers inside the fence, I would think that means constant WATERING and maneuvering a mower or trimmer around the pots. Am I right that it's grass there? Before you abandon the ivy idea (or any clinging vine, like euonymus?), is the potential damage to the fence merely staining? Is that really a problem if your goal is to cover it? Wouldn't an evergreen solution be best?

I was thinking planting your stuff that you suggested all on the outside.

And on the inside I would do just annuals, particularly morning glories planted right up against the inside of the fence so they can twine up and instead of just grass there I would plant other ground covers or flowering annuals (marigolds, petunias, etc).

That way on the outside you have nice green shrubs/hedges and on the inside you would have a splash of color in the summer. And it seems like that would cover the fence and the space is large enough that plants on both sides of the fence would have plenty of light to grow

No grass! Use mulch of some kind (could be stone) between the containers. And if you use low water, structural plants, not constant watering. Or set them up on a drip; it's not difficult.

I would remove all the grass inside the fence, put down landscape cloth -- use smooth, round gravel/stone as a mulch. Plant outside the fence.