Quick cover for a fence

[dlm2310]

I've got a conifer hedge which was around 8 ft tall until a couple of years ago. I lopped a couple of foot off the top to make trimming easier and also to give my neighbour some more light.

2 years later and what does the neighbour do ? Build an 8 foot panelled fence on their side so it sticks up 2 foot over the hedge.

It looks a right dogs dinner.

What can anyone recommend I can grow in the gap between the hedge and the fence so it covers the top of the fence in foilage ?

I was thinking of Ivy but any other suggestions would be welcome

 

[libby lou lou]

Russian vine, aka, mile a minute

 

[Symptoms]

dlm - Virginia Creeper is also vigorous. IMO Ivy should be encouraged to grow in the garden because it's great stuff for wildlife. I've got a 170' native shrub hedge running down one side of my garden into which I laced, years ago, V/creep, R/vine, Honeysuckle (another fastish growing creeping thing - likes a bit of Sun for flowering), Clematis (also Sun for flowers) and Ivy. The birds love it!

 

[mattylad]

What you do is contact building control and ask why you have not been contacted?

As planning consent is required for fences over 6'6" tall, so 8' is a tad too high.
Complain to planning and they may get it reduced.

 

[dlm2310]

dlm - Virginia Creeper is also vigorous. IMO Ivy should be encouraged to grow in the garden because it's great stuff for wildlife. I've got a 170' native shrub hedge running down one side of my garden into which I laced, years ago, V/creep, R/vine, Honeysuckle (another fastish growing creeping thing - likes a bit of Sun for flowering), Clematis (also Sun for flowers) and Ivy. The birds love it!

Thanks for that, stupid question but would a fast growing ivy stifle the trees ?

Matty, I exagerated a tad, looking at it again it is about 7 to 71/2 foot on my side. What they've done is lay decking and then met posted on it and put the panels on so on their side it is about 6 1/2 foot and 7 1/2 on my side.

Don't really want to kick off to building control but would like to grow something on it just to make it look better and to pi$$ them off !!!

 

[Symptoms]

dlm - it's a popular mis-conception that Ivy 'kills' trees, they'll happily coexist. The problem comes with old/diseased/weak trees unable to support the weight of Ivy, thus bringing the whole lot down - these trees probably would have fallen anyway. That's where the Folk Law re Ivy comes from. Ivy only gains support from the tree, it doesn't parasitize the trees by 'sucking its juices'. So co-plant away.

 

[Lorena]

If you want an ivy that's bright and showy and will contrast with a, presumably green conifer hedge, then I recommend Hedera Colchica 'Dentata Aurea' which is quite vigorous with very large leaves, and as the name implies, a mixture of green and yellow.

It's an outstanding ivy, if that's what you're looking for, bearing in mind they are self clinging and will climb over the top of the fence too and down the other side and lengthening to 20 foot or so, and in time, if the fence isn't too stable, could cause problems in a gale.

A vigorous and scented alternative that can be cut back hard each Spring with shears, is a honeysuckle called Lonicera Japonica 'Halliana', it's virtually evergreen too and will cope with such a site as yours although it will need some tying in to the fence to begin with. Again, it will grow rapidly over the top and down the other side unless you are able to train it all over your side.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Is there an underlying neighbourly dispute at work here? If not there may be one soon. Growing some crazy ivy or whatever up the fence is only going to escalate it further, had you considered that he does'nt want to look at your trees either? Talking to your neighbour is surely the first step?

 

[libby lou lou]

Always attempt to talk, i agree, but some people don't want to know.



I think this is what has happened,

The q was how to cover my fence.

Have a smoke

 

[dlm2310]

Is there an underlying neighbourly dispute at work here? If not there may be one soon. Growing some crazy ivy or whatever up the fence is only going to escalate it further, had you considered that he does'nt want to look at your trees either? Talking to your neighbour is surely the first step?

No dispute at all.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Is there an underlying neighbourly dispute at work here? If not there may be one soon. Growing some crazy ivy or whatever up the fence is only going to escalate it further, had you considered that he does'nt want to look at your trees either? Talking to your neighbour is surely the first step?

No dispute at all.

Don't shoot the messanger, I have'nt gotta live there!

 

[twometreshigh]

It is not the height of the fence from the decking that matters but the height as seen/measured from your side of the fence. It is done this way to prevent 'nice' people from erecting a fence that would loom high over the adjoining property. Exceptions are when the ground has a slope.

Planning office should sort out this issue.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Who cares, 2 years on!

 

[HERTS P&D]

Has the 8ft fence being taken down?

Has the Ivy grown and hidden the fence?

Has the neighbour moved/died?

Are the neighbours 'still' talking?

So many unanswered questions................

 

[cleggy]

cant understand

if they have put up a good fence etc.why not take out your conifers.no need for fence and conifers,then put in some plants.wish my neighbour wud put a good fence up