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help with growing screening plants in troughs

4 years ago

I recently demolished my garage. The garage was effectively screening this part of the garden from my neighbours. Now with garage down the area is exposed. I have kept the concrete base and plan to put decking down, but would like to grow screening plants in troughs.. I can’t plant into soil without getting some of the concrete base dug up. Any ideas on what I could do?

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Comments (5)

Sonia
4 years ago
I think that would work really well. Bamboo is used a lot for screening because some are pretty tall, and planting in a trough will keep them in check. I would suggest you buy the biggest troughs you can afford as this will mean less watering in warmer weather. Use John Innes Compost as it is soil based and pretty heavy, so plants won’t be knocked over in the wind. Wood or heavy metal is better than plastic as again plastic is too lightweight to hold up the plants when windy.

Evergreen plants are a good choice so you have a green wall all year round. Suggested plants would be Bamboo, there are loads so check they are clump forming so less chance of spreading. I think buying from a specialist Bamboo nursery will give you the best choice. I particularly like black bamboo (only the stems are black!). There are plenty online. Other shrubs that would work are Photinia Red Robin, Viburnham tinus and a climber called Trachelospermum which was wonderful scented flowers in the summer, but is a slow grower. All pretty low maintenance and you can prune to fit the space. Just remember to water well in dry spells. There’s loads more but i don’t want to overload you!

Photinia

Viburnum tinus

Trachelspermum climber

Bamboo
joanne w thanked Sonia
joanne w
Original Author
4 years ago
I like the look in picture 4, this would work well I think thanks
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Ribena Drinker
4 years ago
I was going to mention bamboo, but I see Sonia has beaten me to it!!!

The things that are good about bamboo are a) it usually grows quite quickly b) although it offers good screening, it's not a solid chunk of greenery that perhaps a bush would be, and c) it moves beautifully in the breeze and can produce a lovely calming sound and d) I found it hard to kill!
joanne w thanked Ribena Drinker
embzop
4 years ago
If you want flowers I would recommend a clematis with trellis attached to the wall or to the planters. If you get the 'patio' varieties by raymond evison the plants will only grow to about 4 foot tall but will have masses of flowers.

Carolyn Aiken · More Info
joanne w thanked embzop
joanne w
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks, lots to think about!

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