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Ideas to cover large plain wall

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  • 17-02-2021 6:25pm
    #1
    downtheroad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    My neighbour has a large building in his garden that borders our wall (looks like our wall has been affected by the building but its been in place for years and we bought our house knowing this was the case).

    Anyway we are looking for ideas to brighten this up and are on good terms with the neighbour so hopefully he won't mind us making a few alterations. A living wall was our idea, just wondering if anybody has created something similar and could offer any advice?

    Will attach a photo in another post as I'm not able to include one in this opening post.

    Thanks


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    #2
    downtheroad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭downtheroad


    Picture of the wall


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    #3
    cuculainn
    Registered Users Posts: 800 ✭✭✭cuculainn


    downtheroad wrote: »
    Picture of the wall

    What aspect is it?

    If south facing you could grow apple/pear trees up it, a sort of cordon.

    Maybe easier would be clematis??


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    #4
    coathanger
    Registered Users Posts: 267 ✭✭coathanger


    Depending on the aspect , we had a cast concrete wall & Passion flower grow really well on it & was very fast growing with fab flowers too.


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    #5
    Reckless Abandonment
    Registered Users Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭Reckless Abandonment


    Paint it and let climbers grow up it. Definitely recommend painting it first.

    Paint it and then Edge it in timber To make boxes on it □□□ Could look like a feature then . (might not suit your garden style)

    Clad the whole thing in timber or
    Plant hedge in front of it .


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    #6
    downtheroad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭downtheroad


    Thanks all. South West facing aspect out the back garden. This large wall is down the back right corner. The back wall is a grey stone wall, so we are thinking if we paint this large wall then we'd have to paint all walls?

    If you have any links or pictures of those suggestions it would be very much appreciated. This could be a good project for the coming months.


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    #7
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,047 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    That's an excellent aspect and provided there is soil at the base, rather than foundations and footings you should be ok. I would think in terms of digging over the base area about 2 foot out from the wall, possibly paint the wall, then fix sturdy wires with proper anchors and stretchers to make a permanent support frame. Don't mess about with trellis, you will only have to demolish everything and rebuild it in about 4 or 5 years time.

    Then plant shrubby climbers that will partially support themselves - cotoneaster, solanum crispum or alba, climbing roses, choose plants that like full sun, honeysuckle and climbing hydrangea would not do so well. You could include some clematis to ramble around everything else, the secret with clematis is to put a paving stone over the roots to keep them cool, the growth likes the sun but the roots like to be cool.

    Alternatively you could put a pergola in front of the wall and grow things over it and let it carry plants to disguise the wall, nice place to sit under in the summer.


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    #8
    mountainy man
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭mountainy man


    Would be a nice place to build a lean-to greenhouse or covered patio.


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    #9
    wheres me jumpa
    Registered Users Posts: 4,478 ✭✭✭wheres me jumpa


    We had a similar scenario. Definitely recommend painting. First we painted white and it looked a bit grubby, then went for a slate grey and it instantly transformed the garden. Hung a pergola off the large wall and then used bamboo to screen off the rest of the wall. It's gone from an eye sore to a focal point.


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    #10
    beggars_bush
    Registered Users Posts: 4,343 ✭✭✭beggars_bush


    mountainy man wrote: »
    Would be a nice place to build a lean-to greenhouse or covered patio.

    Would be great spot for patio and bbq


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    #11
    downtheroad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭downtheroad


    Thanks all. Got the aspect slightly wrong, its actually south facing. I think we are going to put in a patio as suggested and also something like a jasmine wall climber to cover a lot of the wall.

    Painting it would require it to be re-done every year or 2 i would imagine?


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    #12
    downtheroad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭downtheroad


    mountainy man wrote: »
    Would be a nice place to build a lean-to greenhouse or covered patio.

    Would love to put in a lean to greenhouse but the lower part of the wall that juts out a foot would make that awkward to construct.


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    #13
    downtheroad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭downtheroad


    wheres me jumpa wrote: »
    We had a similar scenario. Definitely recommend painting. First we painted white and it looked a bit grubby, then went for a slate grey and it instantly transformed the garden. Hung a pergola off the large wall and then used bamboo to screen off the rest of the wall. It's gone from an eye sore to a focal point.

    Could you post or PM a picture please?


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