Learn how to hide a fence by creating a year-round bed with interesting plant shapes, colors, and textures
No one wants to sit in their backyard and stare at a fence , no matter how pretty it is . I have been designing garden for decades , and not once has someone said , “ I want a view of the fence . ” The traditionalresponse is to camouflage the fencing with ahedgeof identicalgreen shrubs . As gardeners , however , we know there is a honest approach . When confronted with the fencing in my own backyard , I considered it an chance to create aborderusing distinctive shapes , colors , andtextures . The result is abright , low - upkeep border that is attractive in all seasons , whether I am viewing it from inside the house or outside on my patio .
Undulating lines create the illusion of movement
I begin by giving my molding enough depth to be capable to sustain some largertrees and shrubsthat will not outgrow their place when they reach due date . My fencing - camouflaging border is 100 infantry tenacious ( the full length of my property ) and is 6 to 8 feet deep in wide-ranging sections . At the far - end box it is 15 feet deep . By creating a seam that can fit large plants , I have the ability tolayer the planting so they look natural and parklike rather than like a line of tall plant crammed into a narrow space in an obviousattempt to riddle the fence .
This deep bed give the trees and shrubs the space they need to maturate of course , which means I can fend off on a regular basis pruning the woodies off from the lawn or walkway . ( entrust me : You ’ll be glad in the future that you made your garden bed deeper and sacrifice a little lawn . )
seldom do we see dead straight lines in nature , so rather than echoing the uncoiled rail line create by the fencing , I gave my perimeter a serpentine edge to render the fancy of trend . This scheme of course pull back the eye along the distance of the layer and away from the fence . This shape also give the impression that the border has a greater length . When choosing my plants , I selected specie that would replete , yet stay inside , an fanciful vertical boundary to ensure the edge kept its intended flow sort both vertically and horizontally .
A recipe for building an engaging border
When it comes to plan a garden , everyone hassite - specific goals in mind . No matter if your top end is better a persuasion or masking an eyesore , the strategiesfor creating a high - performance border are the same . Keep these principles in mind , and you ’ll be well on your way to make a beautiful and lasting position .
1. Give beds extra depth
cater adequate space for trees and bush allow the planting to be layered dynamically instead of being placed in an unnatural , rigid lineup .
2. Choose a limited color palette
Sticking with a simple set of hue echoed along the border keep the scene integrated and orderly .
3. Don’t use straight lines
Curving the bed edge along a fence leads to more space to plant and a better optical catamenia .
4. Select plants for year-round interest
opt most of your plants for multiseason interest provides the ripe video display for the least amount of elbow grease .
5. Include varied textures
select dissimilar industrial plant with glossy , subdued , wide , and minute foliage bring an intriguing interplay of dimension .
Discover Stacie ’s favoriteplants for hiding a fence .
Find a list ofplant IDs for this beautiful back border .
A plant palette that is mostly evergreen masks the fence throughout the year
When selecting plants for a fence - line molding , I make at least three - quarters of the planting evergreen plant . My finish is to hide the fence as much as possible without creating the look of a fort . The evergreens , of path , make interestingness in wintertime while still hinder the fence . The persist quarter of the plant I choose are selected for seasonal interest from bounce through fall . Keep in mind that this evergreen and deciduous plant material remainder also means less study . The less deciduous plant stuff you opt for your border , the less killing you will have to do at the final stage of twilight .
When using mostly evergreen works to provide fencecoverage all year around , try out to keel your deciduous foliage and perennial flower times so that you have color pockets throughout the time of year . recall , though , that too muchcolor will make the opposite effect and visually slit up your border or look helter-skelter .
If you are serious about produce a bed with as little maintenance as possible , choose your perennial wisely , opting for plants that do n’t need deadheading or staking . The perennials I use are what I call “ touch me once ” plant . Aftera plant locomote hibernating in fall , I cut it down . That perennial will need to worry for itself until the following fall .
Simple flowing colors create a harmonious view
While evergreen plant works do the Leo the Lion ’s share of the work , do not think that they all want to in reality be green . I like to intersperse engaging evergreen plant foliage like that observe on amber - variegate ‘ Aureomarginatus ’ Nipponese euonymus , golden ‘ Sekkan - Japan cedar ’ Japanese cedar tree , and atomic number 47 - color ‘ Blue Star ’ juniper and ‘ Big Ears ’ lambs ’ ears . Evergreen ‘ Blanchard ’ Southern magnolia also gives my borderline reflective qualities with its shiny leaf . This approach guarantee that the border is highlighted with contrasting leafage that addsall - yr sake .
I also like to use semblance to create an fancy that the border has more duration to it . By repeat combination of colors in groups , your middle moves along and then pauses at these areas unconsciously . This does n’t necessarily mean recapitulate the same plants , just the same hues . For example , rich wine to bass majestic tones can be reverberate with the leafage of ‘ Royal Purple ’ smokebush and Diabolo ® ninebark ( Physocarpusopulifolius‘Monlo ’ , Zones 3–7 ) and the redder foliage of Golden Ruby ® barberry and ‘ Moon Bay ’ celestial bamboo in fall , while a play on yellow or golden foliage can be enjoyed by planting Tiger Eyes ® shumac , ‘ Clemson Variegated ’ silverberry , and Magic Carpet ® Astilbe japonica .
If you follow this basic formula your winner is guaranteed , because you will have create a beautiful border with class - round gloss , grain , and interestingness — and you will have hidden that fence you started out with .
Stacie Crooks is a landscape room decorator and educator in Edmonds , Washington . She specialize in drouth - liberal designs .
FromFine horticulture # 208
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Bold colors and forms keep your attention up front.By repeating hues and generously filling the space with stalwart plants, the author has made the fence in the background disappear.Photo: doreenwynja.com
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Before.Fences serve many functions, but they are not necessarily pleasant to look at. Even though these structures are helpful for keeping pets safe within our yards and providing privacy, the scene they create can be sorely lacking without the addition of plants.Photo: courtesy of Stacie Crooks
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Choose reliable performers with a long season of interest.Perennials that require little care can provide worry-free and pleasing pockets of color and texture.Photo: doreenwynja.com
