Best plants to hide railway wall and to add kerb appeal

8 years ago

Our house has an unsightly high wall at the end of the driveway. There is a railway on the other side...

Please, please can you help us to plan which plants, shrubs, or flowers would be best to hide the wall and give our house some kerb appeal.

Thank You

Featured Answer

mayfly182

8 years ago

There's lots of great ideas for plants here, but I would strongly suggest you get answers to the following questions before you choose a plant/plants.

- What direction does the wall face?

- What sort of soil is there at the base of the wall? (Ask neighbours or post a photo of a spadeful of soil here which will probably let people identify the soil type)

- Does water which falls on the tarmac run towards the wall or away from it? Walls cast a 'rain shadow' so if the water runs away from the wall that patch of ground is likely to be extremely dry. You would have to choose a particularly drought-resistant climber or be prepared to add extra water in some way.

If you choose a plant which likes the conditions you have, it'll thrive. If you don't it will probably die and then you'll end up feeling like you're a rubbish gardener.

Those Spanish Bluebells you liked are extremely tough though, and should do well wherever.

...also, if the conditions are right, I'd like to put in a word for my favourite climber, the evergreen and fast-growing Clematis armandii.

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Comments (23)

Tom Flanagan
8 years ago
Have you considered getting a trellis? You could get creepers to help disguise the wall and add some greenery!
telljojo thanked Tom Flanagan
PRO
Cox Jones Interiors
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
http://www.grasslands.co.ukI would definitely recommend some large "standard" potted plants, or trees, these are usually mature plants like roses or topiary which add an immediate wow factor and can be taken away with you if / when you leave.

You could add a painted trellis above the hedge line to blend them in, but go with something similar to your foliage, olive for greener shrubbery, maybe teak for redder leaves like photinia.

If you want more of a project, things like creeping roses, ivy or even wisteria can go wild, even when potted given a year or two.

Ive had some beautiful standard trees from Grasslands, search their website for examples.
telljojo thanked Cox Jones Interiors
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I feel your pain......................this is why i am now a Handyman and not a property developer!! - Too old, too much pain (mental and physical ), just no get up and go, it's all got up and gone! p.s I don't think it needs a full re-furb - it's lovely. I'm pretty sure it's just that utility door and the front door issues. I don't think the planners could have an objection to adding to the wall as is and including gates, in fact, I don't think you need permission. Neither would itaffect the ability for the road users to see what's coming on the main road. This is the rule for walls:- Planning permission is not required provided that: 1. The wall or fence is not more than 2 metres in height anywhere on your property except where it adjoins a road or footpath. In this case the height is restricted to 1 metre I think you're right about buyers seeing the potential change of layout, and if you can show them a plan and sketch when they're viewing I think it would help. Have a break!
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I’m surprised noone has suggested grey uPVC windows yet. They always seem to be a favourite on here. 😖 If the facade is flat, you need relief but your options depend, as usual, on your budget. The biggest impact would be from replacing the windows but set them back in their recess by 2-4”. Pick a more interesting style with smaller panes to creat interest. You would not believe what a difference that would make. Rendering the whole front would just flatten the it more and actually make it less interesting but rendering or cladding a corner might help. Rendering just around the porch means rendering and painting the area that is most easily damaged by high traffic so guard against that. It also risks making the house look dated so I would avoid that approach. Installing a porch and or bay or bow window would bring elements forward but pick compatible styles and don’t mix them, ie traditional OR contemporary. Lowering the top of the retaining wall to path level would reduce the impact of another dominant flat plane. You could also use trellis or panels to break up the surface and encourage climbers, either in front of the walls or onto them. Planters on top of the retaining wall with hedging or tumbling plants could look great. It looks a nice house and with some careful thought could look wonderful but don’t risk spoiling it by going over the top with every idea. Good luck and enjoy your lovely home.
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sianember
8 years ago
is there any chance you can dig out a bit of the tarmac? If so the climbing Hydrangea (Petiolaris) would cover that wall very effectively. I've seen it grown out of a tiny gap in the pavement up a house front, it's very resilient & a bit of a thug tbh, it's deciduous but a variegated ivy growing with it with give winter interest. Here's a photo of it in my garden before it flowered, it has large white flowerheads. It's the plant right at the back.
telljojo thanked sianember
telljojo
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for your replies. I am a novice at gardening and never considered a trellis. Originally, I was thinking about growing a small evegreen hedge... but your ideas have opened up new possibilities.

Im now thinking of photinia for the colour (and am I right in thinking they are evergreen?)

Wisteria is quite common where I live but I am looking for something different. There is about 1 foot of soiled area at the base of the wall (before the tarmac ground begins) so this allows the option of planting in the ground as well as in planters.
telljojo
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi sianember,

Thanks for your suggestion. You've got me interested in climbing hydrangea. But could you tell me what is the name of the plant in the front of your photo? (The one with the white flowering 'bells' ).

Thanks everyone for your help
Sandy Slade
8 years ago
While you are waiting for plants to grow have you thought about maybe painting it and if you have the talent painting flowers or shrubbery on it first. Are you allowed to paint the top grey bit maybe in a light blue like the sky to give the illusion of the sky. Or buy or make a very deep planter so that any plants you do end up with have a 4ft height start.
telljojo thanked Sandy Slade
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David Chatfield Architectural/Int Photographer
8 years ago
Hi. Yes hydrangea is a good way to go great flower to. Photinia will grow big and is normally a bush so needs space around to grow naturally. How about tall bamboos in pots . Some great looking plants out there. Or plant out at the top of the wall to disguise the fence and cables. Somthing evergreen.
telljojo thanked David Chatfield Architectural/Int Photographer
ali270
8 years ago
There is a hydrangea that is evergreen ..Hydrangea seemanii
however as with most hydrangeas it needs a moist soil ,also I find them slow growing . A better option might be trachelospermum
which has evergreen, glossy leaves and white fragrant flowers .
Once it gets started it grows quite quickly and is very manageable.
BUT do bare in mind that anything you plant in your foot of soil will need mega TLC to be successful. Good luck !
telljojo thanked ali270
ali270
8 years ago
ps . That should be "bear" .

Also there is a deciduous trach....mum , don't choose that one !
sianember
8 years ago
Hi telljojo, the white plant is just some Spanish Bluebells - except they're not blue obviously!
telljojo thanked sianember
turquoisetree53
8 years ago
you are being given some great ideas, with which could turn this area into an asset, rather than an eye- sore.

if you really know little about plants and gardening - look to your neighbours or the garden centre, as gardening enthusiasts are, at heart, generous positive people!
telljojo thanked turquoisetree53
manikola
8 years ago
Virginia creeper. In 3 years you won't see a thing...
telljojo thanked manikola
pannacotta
8 years ago
I would plant a selection of evergreen climbers in the top section, Ivy, Star jasmine, evergreen hydrangea, honeysuckle, plus other flowering climbers like Boston ivy, Akebia, Solanum etc. For the lower section I would get some deep troughs and plant up with wall shrubs, which way does the wall face?
telljojo thanked pannacotta
Alison Heppell
8 years ago
You won't see the house if you plant some Virginia creeper ,also Russian vine ,,,avoid at all costs
telljojo thanked Alison Heppell
credz4
8 years ago
I have just painted an outside breeze block garden wall in Magnolia and I can't believe the difference it has made so I would try that here. Then add layers using the natural different levels in the picture. There seems to be a grass level at the top of the concrete. Plant trailing plants in this. Place pots along the garage roof if it will take it. Also if you can stick to a single colour scheme this will stand out too. Consider, if you can, a laurel or Bay tree these can be bought as shrubs and trimmed to tree shape as they grow they are evergreen and grow quick. Either in the ground or in a giant tub, this would then keep it to a certain size. I agree about the creeper, rather than add curb appeal it can turn some people off. Do just a few things first and then see how you feel about the wall in a few months time when you have lived with it for a while. You can always add in as you get braver.
telljojo thanked credz4
Tim Price
8 years ago
Have a look at the crack in the wall first to check stability. Is the wall yours or the railway's to maintain?

Don't put stuff in that will go as high as the power cables on the upper fence - the railway people can get quite upset.

As for the rest, other posts already cover it. Just remember to post photos before, during, newly finished and well established.
telljojo thanked Tim Price
telljojo
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks to all.

It is a south facing wall owned by the railway company. ...so I may need to seek their permission before painting it. But I have received some excellent ideas here on this forum and I am off to my local garden centre, armed with your suggestions.

I will definitely post my plans here for your much needed feedback.

Thanks again
niclips
8 years ago
If it were my wall I would paint it a lovely vibrant colour such as pale pink and then add 3 huge pots in vibrant colours such as an orange, blue and green one in front of it spaced out symmetrically and put something tall in them such as bamboo or topiary or maybe bamboo in the 2 outside ones and a topiary in the middle one. That way, if you move you can take them with you. Also, it is very easy to keep the wall nicely painted and looking neat and also easier and less work to keep the pot plants neat and tidy - climbers etc can get very out of control and also look really spindly at the bottom - we have various of them in the garden and my husband is forever out there hacking them back. Instead of trying to hide the wall, maybe make a feature and pretty it up.
PRO
Linsey Evans Garden Design
8 years ago
Here's a blog post about covering an unsightly wall. If you can cover the wall in this way you'll be able to hang baskets from the structure and put pots in front filled with evergreen plant and annuals for seasonal colour.
PRO
Bestall & Co Landscape Design
8 years ago
Have u considered perhaps planting tall bamboo in planters to cover the wall? also trellis with climbers is also a good idea!
PRO
Contemporary PostUltra Art
7 years ago
if you let the local youths in, they will spray paint that terrible urban canvas a nice splash of colour. The whole area looks dire. soften it with plants and life
telljojo
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks ez for that.

.. I think I missed your suggestion on what exactly we should plant there.. But Thanks for rephrasing the original question back to me 22 MONTHS after the original question was posted. - very helpful.x

Best plants to hide railway wall and to add kerb appeal

mayfly182

Comments (23)

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