Dressing up a 3 metre fence

DeeElle · Nov 22, 2007 4:13 pm

Our garden budget is very small - but thankfully we don't have much of an area to landscape.

The main concern is the back fence which is 3 metres high and 14 mtres wide (supplied and installed by developer). It is a fairly nice CB colour (Grey Ridge) but it is ENORMOUS and we would like to plant a row of something nice to dress the height.

The backyard is 10 metres x 14 mtres and the fence could overwhelm the yard unless we find something to plant along it. The backyard faces north east.

We've considered a row of manchurin pear or prunus (crimson spire) but I think I'd prefer something that didn't grow to 7 mtres high. Any recommendations?

Yak_Chat · Nov 22, 2007 4:28 pm

Hi Dee,

Have you thought about an espalier garden of fruit trees.

This is where you train a pear, apple, peach cherries, etc to grow along wires as part of he fence and they stay around the 4 or 5 foot high and easy to manage pick etc.

Steve

PhoenixStar · Nov 22, 2007 5:06 pm

Hey Steve, espelliering trees on wires on the colourbond fence by drilling into the colourbond will start rust won't it? Cause you are breaking the powdercoat?

DeeElle, I love manchurian pears too and might look at using them but need to check out the fantastic Flemmings trees at http://www.flemings.com.au/homegarden/topten_intro.asp

We had mop tops pleached which is where the trees blend in together to form a wall of growth and all you see at the bottom are the bases.

Have a look at the flemings site and see if there is anything that grabs your attention - i'm going to use it for ideas, as long as they are okay for your region.

Yak_Chat · Nov 22, 2007 5:20 pm

Quote:

Hey Steve, espelliering trees on wires on the colourbond fence by drilling into the colourbond will start rust won't it? Cause you are breaking the powdercoat?

Hmm - Didn't they screw the iron on in the first place.

The designs I've looked at are are a couple of decent posts at each end to run the wires and support the trees, and you brace off the fence every now and then which means not too many extra holes are required.
Steve

DeeElle · Nov 22, 2007 5:57 pm

Excellent ideas.
phoenix I looked up the Flemmings link - fantastic website!
Yak_Chat - great idea about the espaliers - we considered this but not sure if they will be labour intensive i.e. pruning. I love the idea of an edible garden however.

Also a bit concerned about how we would fix the trellis to the fence i.e. wires.

Thanks guys.

TheGardenWhisperer · Nov 23, 2007 12:21 am

I wouldn't suggest fixing anything to a fence as your insurance company may not come to the party if ever god forebid there is any damage or it goes over in a storm.
How about droping some posts along the front of it. then running any wire from that rather than the fence.

I love port wine magnolias. They'd be the perfect size for your spot and bathe the yard in their wonderful fragrance. fast growing too. you'd have to trim them up to keep them narrow but wow would they look great.

What about Pittosporum screen master or Vibernum tinus? You wouldn't kill the vibernum with a brick

lots of flower.

How about the pinkerbelle apple? espallier a mob of them along the fence and they'd pretty much cover it. It's a dwarf pink lady apple

mmmmm

Metro Fiji fire is another good one with it's viberant red tip growth. makes a good hedge and again is tough like the vibernum.

A grapevine would come up well and so would a wisteria

aaurora · Nov 23, 2007 6:31 am

We a putting native flowering trees to attract the birds all along our back fence which is about 30 metres long. Like grevillias and stuff like that. They are very hardy!

Cookiemonster · Nov 23, 2007 7:31 am

Fu Manchu

How about droping some posts along the front of it. then running any wire from that rather than the fence.

Yep, this is what we did. Don't touch the fence.. just run some wire in front.

DeeElle · Nov 24, 2007 6:20 pm

thanks everyone

yep those espalier apples sound right up our alley and the port wine magnolia ... gorgeous. Ive seen pw magnolia as an espalier and they are dense and stunning.

Fantastic suggestions - much appreciated. I think we will put in some posts and run wire between them.

What would I do without your help ...

cheers
Dy

TheGardenWhisperer · Nov 28, 2007 12:52 am

another great plant to try would be Vibernum "Emerald Lustre".
Big green glossey leaves and very tough.