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Post by gale w on Jul 25, 2015 20:40:42 GMT
e? We have chain link and I want to plant a row of something on the outside to cover it up a little. The fence is 4' high but it doesn't have to go all the way to the top. I need something that isn't too much maintenance and that is hardy. Zone 5.
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Jul 25, 2015 20:45:51 GMT
Jasmine. We have pink and white. It seems like one of them is always blooming.
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Post by librarylady on Jul 26, 2015 0:11:25 GMT
Is the area to be covered in sun or shade? Do you want evergreen or are you willing to have a deciduous plant?
Hollies work well, there are many varieties so you can find the look that you like as well as the height you like/need. Some have thinner leaves than others.
Standard Nandina gives a different look, but will create a screen.. They are evergreen here, I'm not sure if they will survive that far north.
If Indian Hawthorne will grow there, it is evergreen and has blooms in the spring. We have them under our LR windows and they grow to about 4 ft. high.
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Post by meridon on Jul 26, 2015 0:46:30 GMT
If you want something to actually grow on the fence, then I second the jasmine. Or maybe some climbing roses. If you just want something to plant in front of it, then eleagnus is an evergreen shrub that can take full sun or part sun and grows like crazy. Good for coverage, but you will have to trim it often unless you want it to get 8 feet tall. I also like loropetalum (AKA Chinese fringe flower) and they will get 4 feet tall in a few years. They have year round interest and a really pretty color, I think.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 26, 2015 2:50:25 GMT
Lilacs. The dwarf ones are really fragrant.
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Post by gale w on Jul 26, 2015 3:16:21 GMT
thanks everyone. It runs north-south and gets sun pretty much all day. There's a little portion that is shaded by our outdoor woodburner but it's only about 3 or 4 feet that's shaded. I'll check out all of these. I think it's too hot to plant anything right now so I have some time to read up on them.
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michellegb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,917
Location: New England and loving it!
Jun 26, 2014 0:04:59 GMT
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Post by michellegb on Jul 26, 2015 9:55:15 GMT
I have planted some Summer Sweet (Clethra alnifolia) that is really low maintenance and somewhat slow growing. It's a deciduous shrub that doesn't fill out until later in the spring, but in August it has the most lovely smelling flowers. The ones I have are at least 10 years old and about 4 feet high and very full. I planted them when they were in 1 gallon pots and about 1 1/2 feet high.
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Post by peano on Jul 26, 2015 13:19:18 GMT
e? We have chain link and I want to plant a row of something on the outside to cover it up a little. The fence is 4' high but it doesn't have to go all the way to the top. I need something that isn't too much maintenance and that is hardy. Zone 5. You want something to block the fence, not grow on it? I'm pretty sure jasmine is not hardy to Zone 5. How about hydrangeas? They do well in part shade. |
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Post by ahiller on Jul 26, 2015 13:28:50 GMT
Hydrangeas would be pretty - what about peonies?
We have a lot of Japenese box woods. They start off pretty small but in a few years would make a nice hedge. Depending on how high you want them, you might have to trim them once a year or so.
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Post by KikiPea on Jul 26, 2015 13:30:45 GMT
We LOVE photinias. The new growth is red, adding some color to the pretty bushes.  |
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Post by alittleintrepid on Jul 26, 2015 13:39:46 GMT
Something like Spirea would be very low maintenance.
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Post by christine58 on Jul 26, 2015 13:44:30 GMT
If you want to block the look of the fence---my parents used Rose of Sharon bushes/trees. They are blossoming right now in western NY.
Lilacs would also work
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,180 
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Post by iowgirl on Jul 26, 2015 13:55:06 GMT
Jasmine is probably not going to work in Zone 5. A lot of the other plants mentioned would not survive Zone 5 very well either.
I am in Zone 5, but I only look at things that are Zone 4, since we do get some serious temp drops from time to time. Not every year, but we still do get some -25 to -30 days some years.
Spirea would be a good choice. Red Twig Dogwood would give you some year round color and interest too. Boxwood is pretty, but if you like the neat compact look - your going to need to maintain it. It is pretty left un-trimmed, but it is more bushy looking then.
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Post by gale w on Jul 26, 2015 17:12:53 GMT
I mainly want to block it-doesn't have to be growing on it. I would like something that wouldn't die out in the winter though, so I'm looking at evergreens.
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Post by christine58 on Jul 26, 2015 17:21:14 GMT
arborvities???
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Post by gritzi on Jul 26, 2015 17:37:56 GMT
Last fall the landscaper planted 5 limelight hydrangea plants. They are blooming beautifully right now. The blooms will turn pink by fall and then change to green. At full height they will grow into a 6-8' hedge.
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Post by Sassenach on Jul 26, 2015 18:46:36 GMT
Ligustrum make great hedges. They are easy to grow and do well in full sun. They need to be pruned once a year. We planted them along our fence in the back yard for privacy. They are also evergreen so you would have them all year round. I love hydrangeas but they lose their leaves in winter.
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Post by cmpeter on Jul 26, 2015 21:34:24 GMT
I am in zone 1, so maybe it's different, but my hydrangeas drop all their leaves in the winter. They are beautiful when they have their leaves and bloom. But, butt ugly when they don't.
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Post by gale w on Jul 26, 2015 21:51:26 GMT
I think for my needs, boxwood might be my best choice. It's hardy and stays full all year, and if we don't get it trimmed it won't hurt. I'll just choose a variety that gets no more than 4' tall. Thanks everyone!!
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Post by meridon on Jul 27, 2015 1:13:13 GMT
Boxwood grows very slowly ....ligustrum on the other hand, is a very fast grower. Look around in your neighborhood and see if anyone has anything you like. I've seen English ivy on a chain link fence that completely covered it, but it's considered invasive and it spreads like crazy if you don't keep on top of it. Also, hydrangeas look like a bunch of dead sticks in the winter, so that's probably not the way to go. I think of them as ornamental, not for screening.
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Post by gale w on Jul 27, 2015 1:49:45 GMT
I'll do more research but from what I read the ligustrum loses its foliage in the winter in my zone. I don't live in a neighborhood. We are out in the sticks and the closest neighbors only have trees.
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