Check out our latest magazine... Read Online

How to Cover Up Shabby Garden Walls and Fences

Friday, 16 August 2024 14:46

If your garden fences or walls are looking a bit shabby it might be time to find a cover up solution. Read on for Sara Whatley’s transformation ideas.

Have you got a rickety old fence that needs some attention? An eyesore of a wall that is crying out for some love? Spending lots of time in your garden at this time of year can suddenly open your eyes to something that never bothered you before, and leave you chomping at the bit to do something about it. How did you ever live with your fence looking like that?

Never fear, there are some smart and fun ways to dress up fences and walls. With options for long-term projects and quick fixes too, you will be just in time for that summer barbeque party at the weekend!

PAINTING
Painting a fence or wall is the easiest, quickest and probably the least expensive transformation you can make. You can opt to make a statement or blend it into the garden depending on the colours you choose. Neutral browns and greens blend in and provide a natural looking backdrop for planting. Darker grey or even black will make the fence or wall ‘disappear’ into the background and help the plant colours pop against the dark background. If you are feeling bold and want to make a statement choose a bright colour or even paint a mural.

COVERING
Covering up with privacy screens is another quick fix to instantly change the look of your fence or wall. From simple bamboo to intricately fashioned metal designs, garden screens come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and designs to suit your needs.

PLANTING
There are so many options when it comes to planting to cover an ugly fence or wall. If you have the time to let them grow think about planting trees or tall hedges, just make sure you leave enough room for them to grow properly and not damage the wall or fence. Another long-term but very elegant solution is to train an espaliered tree along a wall or fence, and if you make it a fruit tree you get the added bonus of tasty fruits as well.Climbing plants are another great cover up and are a medium time investment. Try clematis, honey suckle, or jasmine, or if you have a sturdy wall or can fix a pergola in front of the fence, give wisteria a go.

If you have space in front of the fence or wall, planting a beautiful boarder will draw the eye away, and if you stage your planting with tall plants at the back then a large portion of the fence or wall will be covered as well.

And finally, play with vertical planting. Hanging planters up high gives you wonderful opportunities for cascading plants, and it’s great for a small garden too.

DECORATING
Adding decorative ornaments can make a surprising difference to the appearance of an unsightly fence or wall.

Try hooking lights or lamps along to create a festival vibe and bring more light into your garden. Hanging mirrors create some splendid perspectives of the garden, and can either make a space appear larger, or if you create a garden room with a mirror it can make a space more intimate.

An old window hung along a wall or fence is a fun way to bring interest and a sense of discovery to your garden. You can even create a windowsill by raising a planter as if to sit on the sill.

Lastly, how about a little garden whimsy? Be a friend to the animals and fill a fence or wall with nest boxes (not too close together), bee houses and bug hotels. Not only does this look cute, but it helps to fill your garden with wildlife too.

Garden centres are a treasure trove of wonders when it comes to decorative garden ornaments. Find giant butterflies, flowers and dragonflies to adorn your backdrop, or make your own if you are feeling crafty. Or how about a beautiful old bicycle mounted on your wall? Make sure there is a basket to fill with flowers and see your space truly transported.

AT A GLANCE…
Transform your garden fences and walls with these easy hacks:

• Use paint
• Cover with a screen
• Plant trees and hedges
• Create a flower border
• Decorate with garden ornaments

NB: Make sure to check with neighbours before doing anything to ‘your side’ of fences or walls that belong to them.

Share

More from Home and Gardens

  • Blooming Times: Winter Sparklers

    From designer florists to petrol station forecourts, cyclamen are everywhere at this time of year. They are uniquely different to other flowers – yet have become so ubiquitous, we’re in danger of forgetting how extraordinary they are, says Flo Whitaker

  • Blooming Times: Winter Wonders

    Flowering in the coldest months may seem counter- intuitive, but from a plant’s perspective, there is a distinct advantage – a lack of competition. Flo Whitaker picks six of the best winter- scented shrubs

  • Blooming Times: The Answer Lies in the Soil

    Soil is the gardener’s greatest asset. Understand it, look after it – and many of your horticultural problems will resolve themselves, writes Flo Whitaker

  • Homes Extra: Shed Space

    Are you thinking of a new shed, greenhouse or garden room? Sara Whatley gives you some food for thought on all three

  • Gardening: Choose a Clematis for Every Month of the Year

    The clematis family offers flowers in a wide array of colours and shapes, and there are varieties for nearly every month of the year, says Flo Whitaker

  • Blooming Times: Top of the Pots

    How are your patio pots? Show-stopping, or lacklustre? Time to try some different planting combinations, suggests Flo Whitaker

  • Kids Zone: Get the Kids Growing

    Read on for some green fingered ideas to get the kids involved in the garden from Sara Whatley

  • Blooming Times: Wisteria Hysteria

    With its exquisitely fragrant, show-stopping blooms, wisteria is the queen of spring climbers – yet it can be frustratingly sulky and thuggish. Flo Whitaker offers a quick troubleshooting guide to floral success

  • Blooming Times: Dahlia Mania

    Inexpensive, hardworking plants with blooms in a vast array of colours and shapes - no flower is perfect, but dahlias come pretty close, says Flo Whitaker

  • How to Create 3D Walls in Your Home

    Create walls that look incredible and feel amazing too with the use of 3D wall panels. Sara Whatley looks at this feature wall phenomenon.

  • Blooming Times: Spring Fever

    February is often labelled the cruellest month in the horticultural calendar. However, Flo Whitaker suggests there is still plenty of opportunity for growth

  • Blooming Times: What's in a Name?

    Botanical Latin may seem daunting, but it’s designed to be helpful and informative, says Flo Whitaker

  • Top 10 Garden Birds to Spot on the Isle of Wight

    Alice Johnson from the RSPB describes some of the species of birds you might see during the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this January.

  • The Best Christmas Gifts for Gardeners

    Thinking about a Christmas present for a gardening friend? Or perhaps you’re anticipating a gardening gift voucher and fancy treating yourself? Flo Whitaker suggests some essential hand tools that won’t break the bank.

  • Gardening: The Benefits of Hedges

    Gardeners are a flower-obsessed lot, greedily seeking out the latest, brightest blooms. That’s all very well, but ephemeral flowers need a stage to perform on. Plant a hedge - they add structure, benefit wildlife and look good all year round.

  • How to Create a Happy Home Workspace

    Getting the right home office set up can be key to productivity and happiness. Sara Whatley shares her workspace ideas.

  • Now's the Time to Plant Alliums for a Spectacular Display Next Year

    Easy-going and beloved by bees – now’s the perfect time to plant allium bulbs for a spectacular display next year. Flo Whitaker picks some of her favourites...

  • Gardening Facts or Fictions?!

    The horticultural world abounds with bad advice and old wife’s tales, but some pronouncements are scientifically sound, says Flo Whitaker, as she asks, “True, or false?”

  • Fill The Gaps in Your Garden With Stunning Shrubs

    If your garden’s looking parched and bare, why not invest in a few shrubs to fill the gaps. Flo Whitaker picks six of the best for late summer colour.

  • Summer in the Garden: The Alan Titchmarsh Column

    This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses an array of wildlife we may not expect to see in our gardens over the summer months.

Get Social

© Beacon Magazine Isle of Wight and Aiir 2024 | 8-10 Dodnor Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5XE