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May 16, 2008
dressing up chain link?
So, I have a chain link fence in my backyard. I can't afford to tear it out and get something else installed so I have to work with it... Any suggestions as to hoe to make it look better would be helpful. The garden faces north but there's enough sun coming through the fence on one side to mask it a little with perennials (eventually), but the other side doesn't get light because of a tree. What can I do to mask the links? Someone suggested that Christmas tree garland-type stuff but I don't like the look of it. I like ivy but someone else told me to avoid it because it gets out of control so easily. Is there anything else I can weave inbetween the links to mask it a little? thanks in advance for for any suggestions.
Comments
You could try ivy, but planted in a container. That way it won't be able to spread too out of control, but will still grow and cover very nicely. Bamboo would be another idea - but the same thing, keep it in a container so the roots don't grow and take over.
Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 10:52 PM
Hate our chain link too, but it does let through lots of light that helps plants grow! Plant the vines right next to the fence and up they go.
I planted a bunch of different vines to help hide it: honeysuckle took off fast and climbs right to the top. People will tell you it can be invasive so choose the variety carefully and plant from the rear corner. A neighbor gave me a pod of something I think called quinata, which has five leaves. It didn't do much the first year, but came back fantastically on second year growth early in the spring and is now doing great on the fence. Clematis, which several people recommended, was the worst performer. It is pretty, but it just doesn't cover the fence very well, and now it's in its third year and still wimpy compared to the others.
There are also useful tall annuals that help hide the fence. Amaranth is red and looks amazing, grew fast, and did great last year. It self seeds, and I see little sproutlets coming up now. This year I'm also planting giant sunflowers. Hollyhocks will work too, although the ones we got the first year died from rust so I'm a bit scared off. There are a lot of options out there to cover the chain link without having to resort to garland or those awful vinyl inserts.
Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at May 17, 2008 9:08 AM
I tied a Lattice structure to the middle of my very ugly chain link fence. I used lath pieces to create a large 12' tall piece which implies the perspective of looking through a pergola covered path. Stained the whole thing dark green to blend - neighbors have cedars/green things on their side. I used plastic cable ties to secure the lattice to the chain link. Then situated a bird bath and some climbers to tie it all together. This was a very successful treatment and has given 10 years of pleasure. :) Good luck
Posted by: guest at May 17, 2008 10:41 AM
One of the garden of the day threads last week had a whole discussion and debate about chain link fences that was educational, OP. You should look through and find it. It was the yard that was particularly lush and well established.
People suggested attaching lattice pieces to the fence with wires, as 10:41 did. Also there were lots of suggestions about vines. Be wary of perennial vines that are very aggressive because they will take over a yard. They always have to be watched, those vines. I cut our neighbor's one back to keep it out of our flowerbeds, at least twice a week in Spring and Summer.
Please realize you can do a combination of several things in a yard. You do not have to use the same thing on every inch of the fence, or plant the same vine along the whole fence. You can attach a lattice trellis piece in sections where the fence is fully exposed with nothing on it. Plant shrubs that will grow to obscure the fence in other places. Grow a hydrangea vine on it in other places. Hydrangea isn't too aggressive, will do fine in shade, but it's heavy and would pull down your lattice so grow it directly on the fence.
Posted by: guest at May 17, 2008 11:19 AM
To elaborate on my suggestion to use different things on different sections of the fence - my problem with putting up the same kind of fencing all around our small brownstone gardens is you then feel like you are in a box. A trapped feeling that is psychologically weird. One nice thing about chain link is you do see beyond your yard. So there's depth and perspective beyond your yard at places. It's a good thing. Keep that effect in places by having a green shrub in front of the fence, or a vine growing directly on it, as I said. Then in other parts attach some fence or lattice to the chain link.
Posted by: guest at May 17, 2008 11:22 AM
If you go the vine route, and want something that will come back every year, the only vine that I have seen reliably survive the winter on chain link is Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus cinquefolia). All others will freeze at the attachment point (to the metal) and die back so you'll have to re-plant every year. Anyway, it's gorgeous stuff -- lush, feathery texture in the summer and brilliant vermillion fall color.
Posted by: gowanusaurus at May 17, 2008 5:46 PM
gowanasaurus: all three of the vines I've got going on (honeysuckle, quinata akebia, and clematis), as well as a couple of the weedy vines (a morning glory and another one that gives off tons of annoying red berries), happily survive our brooklyn winters.
Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at May 17, 2008 9:40 PM
OP again. Thanks very much everyone for all the great suggestions. I'll look in to assorted vines and creepers and get some lattice for the parts I want to keep private.
Posted by: guest at May 18, 2008 6:16 PM
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