Imagine yourself unwinding in your backyard, sipping a drink, and sitting on your deck to get some major rays when you notice your neighbor peeking over the fence at you.
Unable to unwind! What if, rather, a two-story building is built directly next to your home with a floor’s worth of windows looking down into your backyard, giving you the impression that you are constantly being watched even when you are not?
Not many of us are fortunate enough to have views of the beach or rolling hills from our backyard. Instead, we live in homes with backyards that are surrounded by fences.
Plants that provide screening are necessary to restore some privacy. However, there are other benefits to planting a hedge, green wall, or screen in addition to screening.
Table of Contents
Best Plants for Fence Line in Australia
Our selection of the best plants for fence lines has something for every size and design of the backyard, whether you’re looking for climbing plants, shrubs, or perennials.
- Clematis
- Ivy
- Honeysuckle
- Morning Glory
- Climbing Roses
- Lilly Pilly
- Hydrangea
- Cherry Laurel
- Photina
- Verbena Bonariensis
- Stipa Tenuissma
- Libertia Chilensis
- Japanese Anemones
1. Clematis
Clematis will happily climb over a fence if you’re interested in learning how to cultivate them, but their tendrils need a trellis or a wire to cling to.
Early flowering, early to mid-season flowering, and late flowering are the three primary categories for clematis. Try an evergreen clematis; it won’t require pruning even after the blossoms have faded.
Clematis armandii ‘Appleblossom’ and cartmanii ‘Avalanche’ are two lovely white varieties that have dense clusters of brilliant white flowers.
In addition to being among the best climbing plants, clematis are also perfect for fence lines since their roots like shade while their stems and top growth prefer to grow upward in the direction of the sun.
2. Ivy
Few sites are unsuitable for ivy to thrive. Because of its aerial roots, it can climb a fence without the use of support. If you’re looking for creative privacy fence ideas, this plant is a great choice because it will form a wall of greenery, has both flowers and berries for winter interest, and has both.
Although it is simple to cut it back and maintain it neat and near the fence line, it can be intrusive. Make sure the ivy you pick is a climber and not a creeper. ‘Sulphur Heart’ is a good option if you want variegated leaves that will make the rest of the plants in your garden stand out unusually.
3. Honeysuckle
There is always something interesting to view since the tubular blooms, which bloom from early summer through the fall, are followed by beautiful red berries. They require some support on the fence since they have thin, flexible stems that entangle.
According to Shannen Godwin of J.Parker’s, “This is an easy-to-grow, effective climber that makes a great addition to any landscape.” Cut back the flowering stems by a third in late summer, then trim them again in late winter to prevent honeysuckle from covering your fence.
Take a look at Lonicera Japonica’s Darts Wall. Because it is a semi-evergreen plant, only a few of its leaves will fall off. In addition to having a lovely aroma, it blooms from late spring through autumn.
For a lovely, lush cottage garden vibe, combine climbing roses and honeysuckle along the fence line. Check before buying if the honeysuckle kind you want is deciduous to ensure guaranteed winter protection.
4. Morning Glory
This twining plant is a desirable option if you’re looking for the greatest fast-growing hedges for fence line covering. From early summer to early fall, it blooms with clear blue flowers and heart-shaped leaves. The morning sees the blooms open, and the afternoon sees them close.
It requires full light and can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in one season. If planted in warm, tropical areas, it is a perennial plant. There is no need to prune; instead, get rid of the seed pods to prevent them from encroaching on your neighbor’s property and becoming invasive.
5. Climbing Roses
One of the best climbing roses may transform a basic fence line into a vertical backdrop of color and beauty.
Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’ is a fantastic option because it is a climber that grows quickly, is thornless and has clusters of tiny, golden-yellow flowers that bloom only once a year. If given free rein, it can reach a height of 30 feet (10 meters). Try ‘Rambling Rector’ for a fence line in a big garden; it has fragrant, creamy blossoms.
To control their development, climbing roses require a strong wire or wooden trellis that is linked to a fence. At intervals of around 20 inches (50 cm), bind the shoots with twine or garden ties.
6. Lilly Pilly
This shrub, also known as Australian cherry or lilli pilli, will grow along a fence line and create a dense, low-maintenance screen with dark green foliage that has pink tips. It grows in practically any soil in the sun or part shade and is evergreen, so it will give coverage all year long.
It is indigenous to Australia and thrives in several US states that have weather resembling the Mediterranean. The majority of cultivars have summertime milky flowers and fall pink fruits.
It is simple to maintain. It will provide a unified and never-boring backdrop to the rest of the garden if you keep it uniformly cut.
7. Hydrangea
Learn to grow hydrangeas if you want a fence line shrub that is truly fashionable. Instead of hiding a pretty painted fence, they will bring attention to it because of their large pom heads and sturdy leaf shapes.
To grow hydrangeas, the soil should never be allowed to dry up. Mulch for added moisture boost in the spring or fall.
Gorgeous lime green deciduous hydrangea paniculata variety that later turns cream and pastel pink. ‘Preziosa’ produces copious pink mophead flowers that turn blue or mauve.
In general, neutral and acidic soils result in pink and blue flowers, respectively.
8. Cherry Laurel
Cherry laurel is a top option for thick garden screening ideas to conceal a fence and produce a neutral background for the remainder of the backyard. Although it may not be the most interesting plant, it is dependable, simple to maintain, and will grow in both full sun and shade.
Simply trim it once a year, in late winter or early spring (or twice a year if you desire a more manicured appearance). It can be cut back as far as you’d like, but it grows 16 feet (5 meters) tall at a rate of 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters) every year.
9. Photina
For a fence cover that adds more than just simple leaves, consider a photinia ‘Red Robin’. Although it is evergreen, fresh growth provides vivid crimson leaves that give the fence line a tremendous pop.
It prefers a protected location with full sun or partial shade and any type of moist, well-drained soil. In the spring or summer, clip it back to keep it trim, but avoid doing so beyond mid-August as this could leave it prone to frosts.
If you enjoy the crimson tint, cut off the young shoots’ tips to keep it as bright as possible. The maximum height, which is 13 feet (4 meters), can be readily contained.
10. Verbena Bonariensis
Few plants are as beautiful and easy to maintain. Verbena bonariensis adds a chic, transparent screen with its tiny purple blossoms on a lattice of slim stems. These plants are perfect for accentuating a fence line in even the smallest garden borders since they grow upward rather than outward.
You may start with seeds or young plants. They will reach a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters) in any case. Even if they wither away throughout the winter, leave them uncut because they will create a lovely, frosted structure and serve as a source of seeds for finches. In the autumn, the plants will love mulch.
11. Stipa Tenuissma
Ornamental grasses can make good screening choices even though they might not be your first choice of plants for a fence line. With its fluffy panicles of silvery-gold blooms on tall, fine stems, Stipa tenuissima, often known as Mexican feather grass or ponytails, lends a textural fringe to the fence line.
It barely reaches a maximum height and width of 24 inches (60 cm) and 16 inches (40 cm), respectively. It requires little maintenance and prefers a sunny location in any soil type. For new growth in the spring, it can be pruned back to the ground.
12. Libertia Chilensis
This chic, slim-line perennial plant, commonly referred to as a Chilean satin flower, has stiff stems covered in pure white daisy-like flowers and clumps of narrow, upright leaves.
It appreciates direct sunlight and despises soggy ground. Its spread is roughly 24 inches (60 cm). It is appropriate for the USA, Australia, and the UK (but not for Alaska or the Rockies).
13. Japanese Anemones
A lovely selection among the best plants for fence lines is Japanese anemones. They have straight, non-floppy flowers that are tall and appear to float above the foliage. They provide the fence line with a nice, appealing structure and a dash of late summer/early fall color.
Choose ‘Königin Charlotte’ for frilly, double pink blossoms on stalks that are 5 feet (1.5 meters) long or ‘Honorine Jobert’ for solitary white cup-shaped blooms.
If your fence casts a rain shadow, it won’t be a problem because these plants flourish well in light shade and dry soil. Once the plants have finished flowering, prune them back after deadheading. Since Japanese anemones do expand, divide them every few years to keep them in check.
Conclusion
Having gone through our list of the best plants for fence line in Australia, It would be best to go into action by cultivating some of these plants in your compound to be a good fencing around your house for some privacy.
Can You Grow Trees Along a Fence Line?
Some trees are particularly suited to growing along a fence line, even if the best trees for small gardens are a fantastic alternative for growing in a constrained location.
Italian pencil pines (Cupressus sempervirens), which can be planted in a pot or directly in the ground and have a classic, beautiful appearance, are an excellent choice for the finest plants for fence lines since they can fit in even the smallest spaces.
Pleached trees are a way to add height to the landscape around the fence. A method of teaching trees to grow a thin screen or hedge by tying in and interlocking flexible young shoots along a supporting structure is known as pleaching, according to the RHS.
Pleached trees are available from specialized nurseries and garden centers ready-shaped for purchase. Pleached espalier trees have a tier-like appearance and a straight stem that extends about 6.5 feet (2 meters) above the ground. This method can be used to cultivate apples, apricots, and pears, resulting in a fruitful and attractive fence line.
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A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy.