Do you have an ugly and bare fence? If yes, adding a bit of greenery can change the entire look of the fence. But what to plant along a fence line?
You can consider many plants, like Clematis, Ivy, and others. They add visual cohesion to the entire outdoor space of your house.
The plant you will be planting on a fence line needs extra care and attention. The vertical structure will prevent the rain from reaching the roots. So, dig manure at least once a year to prevent the soil from getting too dry. Additionally, you need to water the plants almost regularly for optimal growth.
Space is vital when growing some plants along the fence life. In addition to the available space, you must consider how much space the plants will cover upon maturity. It will prevent the overcrowding of plants.
What To Plant Along A Fence Line?
1. Clematis
Clematis are famous flowering vines that you can grow on your fence line. The flower can be of various colors like blue, pink, red, and purple. You will have a spectacular view during blooming time.
The flowers even last for multiple days and then wilt. The plant requires abundant sunlight to produce more blooms. But the root should be protected from intense sun rays. You can put a 2-inch layer of mulch to keep the clematis roots cool.
The PH of the soil must be neutral. Loamy and well-drained soil is good for growing clematis.
You need to water the plant almost regularly. However, it depends on the environmental conditions of your locality. Try always to water the plant when the soil is dry.
Again, overwatering plants can cause fungal diseases. You must fertilize the plant within three to four weeks for more bloom production.
2. Ivy
Do you want to grow a plant along a fence line for privacy? If so, then Ivy plants will suit you.
The plant blooms during fall time. The flower can be greenish-white or greenish-yellow.
The plant requires full to partial shade for proper growth. It has aerial roots. So, it will not need any support to grow on your fence line.
You can grow this vine in well-drained soil. However, it can grow in poor soil with varying PH levels.
You need to check the soil condition before watering the plant. Ivy plants prefer slightly dry soil for proper growth. Hence, allow the ivy soil to dry slightly, then water the plant.
The plant grows within a temperature of 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Medium to high humidity is good for the growth of the plant. You need to provide fertilizer within a gap of two weeks in spring and summer time.
The plant is usually affected by aphids, spider mites, and other pests. So you must use neem oil or other insecticides to keep the pests at bay.
3. Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is another simple-to-grow climber that you can grow on your fence lines. Their stems are pretty flexible, so they need support on your fence.
Most of the species can tolerate cold weather. But there are even a few species that require a little extra care. It produces yellow to red blossoms with a lovely fragrance that beautifies your landscape.
It’s good to grow honeysuckles in full sunlight. They can grow almost on any soil type, but it is good to grow in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. You need to prune the vine in winter or fall because, at that time, the plant is usually dormant. The vine will again emerge in the spring season.
4. Lilly Pilly
Lilly Pilly can be a shrub or tree, depending on the species. They have waxy leaves and soft and fluffy flowers. If you don’t trim the flowers, they will grow into berries. The berries are edible and tasty.
They grow good in full to partial sunlight. They can thrive in almost all soil conditions. But the plant grow particularly in rich and well-drained soil.
They are drought-tolerant plants. However, providing regular water, especially in the growing season, allows the plant to reach maximum height and produce more flowers and fruits. If you provide all the ideal conditions, a lilly pilly will take 5 to 15 years to get maximum height.
5. Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are pretty famous for their large flowerheads of varying colors. They are shrub plant type and grow almost 2-20 feet tall. The plant blooms mainly in summer and fall. The flower can be of any color, such as white, blue, pink, green, and many more.
Hydrangeas require full to partial sunlight for optimum growth. Too much shade can reduce the bloom quantity. The plant can thrive in almost any soil type, but growing them in fertile and humus-rich soil is good.
An interesting thing about the Hydrangea macrophylla is that you can control the flower color by adjusting the PH of the soil. If the plant grows in acidic soil, it will produce blue-colored flowers. But if you grow the plant in neutral or alkaline soil, it will produce pink blooms.
Hydrangeas require consistent moisture for proper growth. You need to increase the amount of water in the summer season.
Certain pests like aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites can attack the plant. You can use insecticides to keep the pests away from the plant.
6. Cherry Laurel
Cherry laurel plants are attractive shrubs that can grow along a fence line. The plant produces sweet-smelling white color flowers. They further develop into fruits, which attract many birds to your garden.
Cherry laurel consist of thick and opaque dense leaves. You need to trim them at least once a year.
The plant can tolerate various light conditions, i.e. full sunlight to partial shade. However, the plant will grow its good when exposed to too much sun in cooler climates and partial shade in warmer climates.
Cherry laurels require fertile, slightly acidic, well-drained soil to grow properly. You need to water the plant frequently to keep the soil moist. You can boost the plant growth by providing fertilizers from time to time.
7. Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima)
The stems of Mexican feather grass grow almost 2 feet tall. They sway in the wind with its feathery flower panicles.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows well in full sunlight and partial shade. They thrive well in loamy, well-drained soil with PH varying from 6.0 to 7.0. You need to fertilize them annually for proper growth.
Mexican feather grass require low maintenance and simple-to-grow plant. You can grow along the fence line to add beauty to the overall space.
Conclusion
Adding plants can add beauty to your fence line. But what to plant along a fence line? I have listed almost seven plants you can grow along your fence line. Leave at least a few centimeters gap between the fence line and the plant because the plant will require some space for breathing.
Happy planting!
