The Fence!

Pyrocantha is very spikey-horrible plant, unless it's to keep burglars out.

Agreed pyrocantha is spiky, but it is a beautiful sight just now, covered with red berries and a feast for the birds.

I've just planted a ceanothus (California Lilac) against my fence Phoenix. My soil is heavy clay and, thanks to the previous owners, it still had builders rubble, sheet plastic and other detritus buried deep, and so hadn't much depth after I'd dug that lot out. I dug in as much top soil as i could physically carry and work with and, from the looks of it so far (3 weeks), its settled in quite well. They're really attractive to bees and butterflies and are not at all expensive to buy. Lots of different shades of blue to choose from and varying heights. Here's a pic of what to expect....

I need plants which are invasive as I have the opposite of green fingers and a lot of fencing to cover! I plan to plant passionflower along the back fence, down one side I have a herbaceous border with shrubs like Choisya, Buddleias, sambucus nigra and three big peonies. The third fence has a clematis Montana, philadelphus, a japonica and more peonies then a pergola with a couple of grape vines.
Any help? If you plant pyracantha be careful to choose the colour of berries you prefer, I like red and am less keen on tge orange/yellow variants.

Cotoneaster is robust, evergreen, covered in berries and seems happy in any soil, doesn't seem to need support and is fast growing. Climbing hydrangea a spectacular choice, takes a year or two to get going but then takes off like a rocket, winter jasmine, solanum, honeysuckle, clematis, climbing and rambling roses. I'm no gardener, believe me, but all the above have done well in my exposed garden with clay soil and little care.
Currently undergoing large building works, my difficulty is keeping the builders away from the plants. Trampled agapanthus and lime covered buddleia and fuschia just a few of my garden problems, grrr.
Looking forward to photos of your finished garden this time next year Phoenix.

We have a climbing hydrangea, quite large now.

Last year it was smothered in bees - the ones with the white bottoms, but this year there werent as many flowers so not as many bees. Still worth planting though.

We've just planted a deep pink buddleia (actually buddleja) against another fence.
Fingers crossed it will survive and the bees will like it.

And forsythia, always a splash of yellow when there isn't much else.

Winter flowering jasmine?

Chewbacca I will definitely plant a ceanothus when the building work is complete, yours looks fabulous.

I've just planted a ceanothus (California Lilac) against my fence Phoenix.

Ditto, Chewbacca.

Sorry about the multiple posts, I should try.

I just got so excited when I saw the OP!! as we've been planting to hide a fence.

oops Chewbacca just read properly, what you expect it to look like, fingers crossed.

quizqueen

Pyrocantha is very spikey-horrible plant, unless it's to keep burglars out.

Yes, we planted some because someone used to use our garden as a shortcut!
It's terrible stuff.

How about a choiysia? Ticks all your boxes: doesn't care what type or condition of soil it has, evergreen all year round with variegated thick glossy leaves. White flowers in Spring/summer and it climbs slowly up fences and is easy enough to cut back and shape. Cheap as chips to buy. I've got 3!

Thank you all, I really appreciate your posts!

LauraNorder I thought cotoneaster was a spreader, rather than a climber?

I've got the plans for the opposite side of the garden sort of under control (note to self, do NOT impulse buy plants!) but having a new fence on the opposite side gives me the opportunity to sort of create a new bed, starting with the backdrop, hence looking for evergreen climbers.

The ceanothus only lives for about 5 - 7 years and then just dies out. It's quite shallow rooted and can be susceptible to high winds blowing it over, hence it's best against a fence. But as it's quite cheap to buy (mine was less than £6) you've not lost a lot when it goes to the great compost heap in the sky,

I don't buy into the idea that if you have a fence you must cover it with climbers.

Nothing looks nicer than a freshly painted fence which forms a perfect backdrop to self supporting plants with plenty of foliage, preferably evergreen or large pots which can be moved around according to the seasons. Any climber means maintenance.

If the fence suffers problems then your plants have a problem!

A wall is a different kettle of fish.

hence looking for evergreen climbers Choisya Sundance is your friend. Climbs slowly, evergreen with varying shades of green/golden yellow glossy leaves and a bonus of little white flowers.

Oh, I didn't realise cotoneaster was a spreader, mine has been in for three years and is prostate against the wall and climbing, probably cos I keep trimming the front and using the cuttings elsewhere, I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks.

Chewbacca

^hence looking for evergreen climbers^ Choisya Sundance is your friend. Climbs slowly, evergreen with varying shades of green/golden yellow glossy leaves and a bonus of little white flowers.

I just bought one of those too!
We must be telepathic.

Mine's going into a large pot, hope it will be ok.

merlotgran

I don't buy into the idea that if you have a fence you must cover it with climbers.

Nothing looks nicer than a freshly painted fence which forms a perfect backdrop to self supporting plants with plenty of foliage, preferably evergreen or large pots which can be moved around according to the seasons. Any climber means maintenance.

If the fence suffers problems then your plants have a problem!

A wall is a different kettle of fish.

It's a screen between us and the neighbours at the back, merlot.
They had a huge conifer cut down (hurray) but there is now a gap.

Ps most suggested are self-supporting, but not the climbing hydrangea.

It'll be fine in a pit for a couple of years Callistemon but will probably my need either potting up a bit bigger or transferring to the garden after that. They're very hardy; I've been trying to kill one off for 12 months now with no success. And I'm sick and tired of yanking out the runners from Japanese Anemone; dear God they're invasive! What was I thinking when I planted that?

I agree that a screen/fence needs climbers but whenever I watch a garden makeover programme on TV and Alan Titchmarsh leaps into action plonking all manner of high maintenance climbers against a new fence I want to scream, 'Nooooooo!'

In fact, I usually do.

Oh dear, stirred up a bit of a hornets nest, sadly.

LauraNorder who are you going to get to shove a gloves finger up its roots? Sorry, couldn't resist!

It'll be fine in a pit for a couple of years
No it won't! It will be fine in pot for a couple of years!