fencing or border on a budget
Vic T
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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3 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Pictures of a mixed border for privacy & to hide a fence?
Comments (10)There's no reason you can't plant the same thing along the entire length if the look you want is a hedge, rather than a shrub border. A formal hedge would be shrubs that are trimmed, possibly evergreens. An informal hedge would be created with plants that have a pleasing natural shape, and they would be allowed to grow naturally, or with a snip here and there to maintain a neat shape or control size. It can be all the same kind of shrub, or a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs that would either bloom at different times, or provide year round foliage color, or interesting seasonal changes. It all depends on what look you're after. The style of your house and surrounding neighborhood might suggest which look would be right, or you can just go with your personal preference. I would see if your library has books on shrubs, maybe check out the shrub forum, and search the web for articles and information on hedges or shrub borders....See Morehas anyone ever used very simple 'stick' type fencing for border?
Comments (3)Aha! It's 20" tall, and expands to 197". At full expansion it would be much shorter, so you're probably better off not burying it. Though that depends how short a fence you want. If you don't like the aluminum fasteners that come with it, you could use almost any sort of stake; for something inexpensive and non-rotting, maybe some of those plastic garden stakes, cut to the height you need; attach the fence with wire. As to how to cut the fence to size, normal garden pruners should work fine. If you decide you prefer to put the bottom of the fence in the ground, just dig a narrow trench, insert the fence, then fill in around it....See MoreDesigning loose shrub border along fence
Comments (13)It looks like your neighbor owns the fence, correct? I'd choose plants that won't do any damage to the fence (no poking through with limbs that could get fat & stress the pickets, nothing that drops berries that could stain it). Do they power-wash the fence? If so, leave a buffer of empty space between your shrubs and their fence so you can hopefully put up plastic to deflect the high velocity soapy water. I'm just thinking the worst because your neighbor sounds difficult to deal with. A friend had a berm & many shrubs planted to give her yard some privacy, it was exposed on 2 sides. I can't advise you on what conifers will do well in your zone, but I can tell you what has worked (and not worked) in her landscape now 8 years later ... Planting white pines gave her near-instant privacy, but is now crowding everything else. I think they were put in to be a temporary measure but she loves the way they block visibility in the winter so she's torn about getting rid of them. Planting several different kinds of a single plant worked well. She has a ton of lilacs which extends the bloom time. Planting bushy perennials at the feet of those lilacs works well to hide their less-attractive leggy bits. But she finds the perennials & lilacs compete for water in the summer so she put in a soaker hose. She has some purple-foliaged shrub/trees like a purple sand cherry - that adds some nice contrast when nothing is in flower. Purple is the only colored foliage she went with, so the effect is calm. She had one big shrub with leaves with white margins. It always looked sickly from a distance, even though it wasn't. Since you'll be seeing this area from a distance you probably want to stand WAY back from variegated foliage to figure out if you have the same thoughts about those plants. She wanted something for the local wildlife to snack on, so she added rosa rugosa for their rose hips. They are pretty and they tolerate the sand/salt from the road nearby - but they aren't so pretty in winter. It's a love/hate relationship. Is there a wealthy neighborhood or town nearby that you can drive through? That's my fall back position when I know I want to do something but I'm not sure what will look good. I go look at what combinations look good in other people's yards! Good luck with the planting and with the neighbor....See MoreAdding on to the fence border
Comments (3)I'm so jealous that you're able to create another hosta garden. Not free to do that in my condo community. Keep us posted as it evolves. You're going to love Dancing Queen! DD...See Moredi3h1s
3 years agoVic T
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