Don’t forget your boundaries…
If you live in a town or city, your garden boundary can be quite a dominant element of your garden - many of us have the problem of looking out into the garden and staring straight at a fence. So here are a few tips for dealing with them.
1. Do you want it to disappear?
Consider painting it - black! I know this sounds quite extreme but it can be a really effective way of making a fence recede out of sight. It’s crucial however that you have some space to plant - it’s the contrast of the plants in front of the dark fence that makes this work. So paint it, dig a nice deep planting border in front of it and fill that with plants of varying height. In my garden the rear fence is painted black and I’ve filled the bed in front with evergreen plants. It looks lush all year round and the fence appears to be just a shadow behind the planting.
Dark fence recedes behind the planting - this is newly planted and the fence will recede further as the planting establishes.
2. Do you need a fence?
If you are starting from scratch, do ask yourself whether you need a fence. Could you consider installing a soft planting boundary instead? It’s cheaper, more attractive and of course great for local wildlife. A dense evergreen hedge will give you year round privacy - consider Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel) or Griselinia littoralis for example (see this useful Gardeners World article). Or perhaps try a mixed wildlife hedge, bringing you spring blossom, autumn colour and lots of interest from the visiting wildlife. Plant bare root hedging in the winter for a really cost effective option.
3. Do you want to add to your security?
The choice of planting near to your boundary can give your security an extra boost if you need it. A thick hedge or plant border of spiny, prickly plants creates a tricky boundary to cross. Plants to consider include:
Rosa Rugosa (Dog Rose) - tough and easy to grow, they bloom beautifully in the summer with attractive hips after the flowering has finish. Dog roses are very thorny and can create an impenetrable barrier. They are also great for wildlife.
Hawthorn - this native plant is often found in hedgerows and is tolerant of exposed sites and most soils. Dense and thorny, it has beautiful scented blossom in May and red fruits in autumn.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) - an easy to grow, evergreen option for a thorny hedge.
Other options include Berberis (Barberry), Pyracantha and Mahonia all of which have great wildlife benefits.
4. Could the boundary be a key feature?
There are a couple of examples of this in the images below. In the first garden, there is an existing attractive brick wall between the neighbour on the right hand side. When designing the garden, we decided to make the wall a feature and selected a similar brick for a section of flooring to in order to highlight it.
In the second garden, the house had recently been given a modern makeover, which clashed with the traditional, cottage garden style fencing that had been installed in the garden. We removed the fencing (to be reused on another site) and replaced it with a style that suited the new house and garden.
5. Can you conceal it?
A great option to conceal your boundary is to add climbing plants. Tension hooks and straining wires can be easily attached to fence posts or walls with climbing plants trained up them, concealing a boundary within a few seasons (see this article from Gardeners World for further advice). I often use Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), which is an evergreen climber and produces white, fragrant flowers in the summer. Or there are many beautiful deciduous climbing plants - clematis, roses, honeysuckle. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) is a great option for a shady wall.
Climbing rose
6. Can you refresh it?
Very often we are left with a mishmash of fencing that has been changed or replaced over the years. Some new, some looking tired. What about painting it all? A light colour can improve the light levels in a small, dark garden and tie the boundaries together. Check out this garden by Garden Club London, which has beautiful light painted fencing, opening up and brightening what could be quite a small city space. In this particular garden they have added attractive light fittings but I also love it when other features are added to boundaries, such as light reflecting mirrors or lanterns.
Another way to refresh fencing is via wood cladding, which is useful if you can’t remove the existing panels. The image below, taken during the build phase, shows new cedar wood cladding, which adds beautiful warm tones to the boundaries of this Warwickshire garden.
Cedar wood cladding
Don’t forget…
There are rules and restrictions that apply to garden boundaries. It’s crucial you understand these before you take forward any work and make sure you discuss any changes with your neighbours to avoid disputes. Height of boundaries (particularly those next to a road) are important but even painting your fence must be checked first if the boundary isn’t yours. Always double check the rules with your local planning office and communicate with your neighbour before you do anything.
