HOW DO I CONSTRUCT A FENCE A LIVING FENCE AS A GARDEN

Creating a live fence line is fun, exciting and fulfilling. All you need is a little imagination, a little knowledge of plants, especially how they grow and depending on the size plant you purchase a little patience till each plant fills in. Here, I have selected seven varieties of plants. From back to front: Climbing Hydrangea, Eyonomous, Weeping Norway Spruce, Crytameria, Upright Boxwood, Black Lace and Climates. Each plant grows at a different pace. Some grow taller, some wider, and some straighter. This picture shows the backside of the fence line. A neighbor enjoys the beauty in a different light. With such a small property, it's hard to get the perfect picture. Descriptions and some pictures are listed below,  Periodically I will be updating this hub with pictures that do this fence justice. So come on back and take a look see.

Okay, if you look at the back side of the fence line the plant farthest in the background is a Climbing Hydrangea. It needs to cling on something. I chose an old dead tree that I sunk in the ground, reinforced it with re-bar, (comes in all different diameters). We put gravel in the hole and tar on top, hung some bird houses on the branches before we sunk the tree in the hole and added cement for added reinforcement. The possibilities are endless. This may seem a bit extreme, but oh well, I guess you can consider me an extremist.

As for the Hydrangea and the Clematis, they are both deciduous, (leaves fall off in the winter).  So, if you want privacy all year you may want to reconsider this one.   Remember the rule, the first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps and the third year it leaps. Buy a two year old plant for either so you don't have to wait so long for it to leap. Hydrangeas root very easily. Just stick it in the ground and water. I take cuttings from it annually and stick them around the oaks. It's like coloring in a coloring book, only you have to wait to seek the end results. Isn't gardening so mystical? Keep in mind though, if you root it from a cutting it will take longer for it to establish into a lush 3' wide live pillar, like three to four years longer.

Check out the arbor, all it cost me was time, This one I made from a few dead Mountain Laurel I found in the woods. Think out side the box. Get creative. Anything goes when it's free.

This Weeping Norway Spruce is being trained toward the house. The idea was to acquire a little more barrier height above the Eyonymous. The intention is still vague. Even an avid gardener contemplates decisions. I would have much preferred this spruce to grow the other way maybe, but too late now unless I want to uproot it and turn it around risking loss all together. I have tried to move them before, but to no avail. This dilemma falls in the hands of most gardeners. Leave well enough alone and work with what I have, it's my garden, my decision to make that choice,

The Eyonymous, an evergreen,  was grown from cuttings. My dear mother gave me the mother plant years ago. I have been spreading it's good joy everywhere. It's almost at the top now.  I took wire and wove it through the lattice to hold the plant in place.   This took about three years. I loved it so much I created another on the fence line. I made the lattice and sunk it in the ground and stuck cuttings all along the base. The second one is only one year young. You can buy these already grown in a long planter base and walla instant coverage.

This is an odd deep green evergreen. It looks messy near the trunk with dry dead looking foliage but it is unusual and I kinda like it. It stays compact and grows relatively slow so pick it for the spot. Or alternate with something else. Just keep in mind, the growth habit is the key. ]What do you want. If it is a relatively slow growth habit look for miniature not dwarf. Use your own judgment or just ask me in the comment section of this hub. I will be glad to help with your decision.

The name speaks for itself. This grows rather slowly and slim so select a place where it just fits like it was meant to be. It has deep green foilage.

Oh how I love this plant.  It grows like a small shrub and has maroon leaves and flowers like a devils walking stick.  A cluster of pink.  You can train the branches to grow flat and prune to keep the desired shape.  It will take up a good 6' or so when fully established.  It is deciduous though, so if you want a barrier in the winter this will not do.

The Clematis (Nelly Moser) grows with same principles as the Hydrangea. Notice the lush blooms? This plant is still young. See how it is growing in full shade on the north/east side of the house. It only gets the late afternoon sun, but not around its base. It loves to be cool at the base so if yours is in full sun, stick a rock under and mulch around it to shade the ground around it. It will thank you by growing faster and producing more flowers. I have two clematis. One to form the arch and one at the beginning of the fence line. This one in full sun that I trained to grow on an old antique bird cage. When it is in bloom it is to die for. Wish I had a picture to show you.