Hide that Ugly Wall - Notes

1/6/2013

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Hide That (Ugly) Wall
or Fence

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve
November 3 & 6, 2012
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year)
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

The ugly wall/fence: we’ve all seen them What options do I have?

http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/CA/Long-Beach/6147-
Brayton-Ave-203_P828073.htm

http://chrissuh.com/find-a-home/los-angeles/

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1/6/2013

Options for dealing with an ugly wall/fence Wall art/murals can make a strong statement

 Turn it into a focal point
 Paint it to create a design element

 Put a new fence in front of it

 Cover it with something nice – clad it

 Hide/camouflage it:
http://www.mcgonaglestudio.com/otherExpressions.php

 Paint/cover it to make it disappear

 Hide it in plain sight – plant / place
something interesting in front of it

 Camouflage/soften with plants

http://www.classicmurals.com/galleriffic-2.0/classic_murals_garden_patio.html http://decorateyourfence.com/Fence_Murals.html

Even chain-link fences can be works of art Modernizing old
walls with additions
& tasteful color

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t698367.html

So most fences can be turned into
the equivalent of an artist’s
canvas
© Project SOUND http://rhsblog.co.uk/category/garden-trellis-to-offer-privacy-for-walls-or-a-fence-london/ © Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ancawonka/2326986871/

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1/6/2013

Weigh the pros/cons of Options for dealing with an ugly wall/fence
making your wall a focal point
 Pros  Paint it to create a design element
 Unique look – can literally
make a yard come alive  Put a new fence in front of it
 Adds colors not available in
plant world  Cover/re-face it with something
http://www.abecoley.com/murals
http://www.archidir.com/house-design/sustainable-barrow-timber-house-design-by-andrew-  Can be an artistic adventure nice – clad it
maynard-in-melbourne/

 Cons  Hide/camouflage it:
 Need to be an artist – or
hire one
 Difficult to plant around –  Hide it in plain sight – plant
dominates the landscape something interesting in from of it
 May get tired of it

http://muralsforyou.net/category/backyard-mural/
http://uglyhousephotos.com/wordpress/?p=15751

Put up a new fence in front of it Maybe you don’t need to re-fence the
 Pros
whole area
 May help keep the peace with your  Save the expensive fencing material
neighbor – s/he keeps the old one for areas that are focal points
 Looks nice and new – your choice of style
 Don’t need to remove old fence  Some ideas: a large freestanding
screen, arch or arbor; a fountain;
 Con wall art; shelves to hold flower pots;
 Cost a large tile mosaic picture
 ?? wastefull
http://www.jmsfeatures.com/

http://sunshinecontractingcorp.com/fencing/composite-vinyl/

http://www.sousaironworks.com/wood.htm

http://www.houzz.com/wall-trellis-design/ls=4
http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.com/2010/06/privacy-screen-project-final-reveal.html

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1/6/2013

Or maybe you can find a more Re-facing/covering
economical solution an old wall
 We tend to think of stucco (we do
 You may not need a whole new live in the California, after all);
fence – just something to cover it many more options
 By making less of a statement with  Pros:
the fence/wall, you have more http://www.todayshomeowner.com/build-a-concrete-block-wall-the-easy-way-
with-quikrete-quikwall/
 Cost – may be less than a new
room for creative use of plants fence/wall; small jobs can be done
by the home-owner
http://www.landscapingnetwork.com/products/fencing-gates/bamboo.html
 Durability
 Can be an important design element
 Usually easy to combine with plants
– more backdrop than focal point
 Cons:
 Not appropriate for all house styles
 Usually light colors
http://www.landscapingla.com/patios/hidden-backyard-patio/

Fence cladding – hiding the wall/fence Cladding materials  Bamboo cladding – Comes as rolls of
bamboo reeds that are fixed
together, or as thicker bamboo rods.
 Fence cladding : any material that is Environmentally friendly; perfect for
affixed to the front of the a tropical look.
fence/wall to disguise it or to create
 Timber cladding – Perennially popular
more privacy.
- natural beauty of timber never goes
 Pros: out of style. Timber cladding can be
applied vertically or horizontally and it
 hide an ugly, tired looking fence that
can be left natural or painted,
is in otherwise good condition
http://article.wn.com/view/2012/05/30/Former_Rockwall_mayor_
http://besthomedecorators.com/solid/solid-black-bamboo-fences.html
depending on your goals and
preferences.
Bill_Cecil_in_runoff_for_county_Commis/

 Can be much cheaper than replacing http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/woodcare/latticepanelinstallation.htm

the fence altogether
 Lattice cladding – relatively
 No negotiating a new fence with a inexpensive and good for growing
neighbor (who may be perfectly plants on/in front of. Readily
happy with what’s already there!). available & easy to install. Can be
painted/stained to accentuate or
 Better fit with some home styles – make it disappear.
more possibilities

http://rhsblog.co.uk/2012/07/02/cedar-timber-batten-cladding-trellis-privacy-screen/

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1/6/2013

Cladding materials:
Some ideas to make your wall/fence a garden accent
more choices all the time
 Screens mounted on to a wall to create
 Stone cladding/veneer – Expensive but an interesting feature. Laser-cut steel
nice looking. Stone cladding uses thin
screens come in many patterns and
pieces or “tiles” of stone that are
attached to the fencing surface in some options, with finishes including rust,
ways, and you can choose from a variety stainless steel and powder-coated colors
of natural stones. for design highlights.

 Brick veneer/cladding http://www.ottawahort.org/2009may27tour.htm  Garden art is popular and there are many
options, including three-dimensional wall
 Vinyl/plastic siding
panels. Choose the colors carefully and
 Fiber cement siding/panels – Cheap, ensure the sculpture finish is suitable.
long lasting and effective. Easily
attached to existing fence; very strong.  Lighting will create interesting effects
This means that you can fix things and the options with colored LEDs can
directly to the cladding and paint it the transform and improve the look of an
color of your choice. ugly wall at night.
 Metal cladding http://www.decorfortheoutdoors.com/outdoor-wall-decor.html

http://clippings.com/projects/extension-and-refurbishment-of-badies-health-centre-4951

Options for dealing with an ugly wall/fence Paint/stain can accentuate or hide a fence or wall
 Turn it into a focal point  A coat of paint gives your fence a
new look and hides any blemishes
 Certain colors help the fence blend
 Put a new fence in front of it into the surroundings, making it less
noticeable; others accent it.
 To camouflage the fence with paint,
consider the colors in the
 Hide/camouflage it: surrounding landscape.
 Paint/cover it to make it disappear  A dark gray-green or gray-brown
color helps the fence blend in with
 Hide it in plain sight – plant http://www.owenchubblandscapers.com/news/?cat=130
existing plants.
something interesting in from of it
 The dark color often seems to
 Camouflage/soften with plants In general, matt or semi-gloss disappear and makes other elements
paints blend in better than shiny of your landscape, including plants
textures and your home, the focal point

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1/6/2013

What fades into nothing in this wall art? The disappearing fence

http://www.creatingabeautifulworld.org/
http://www.rhinoink.ca/murals/murals-floral.html

Basic principles (for hiding a wall/fence with color):
1. Darker is better (looks like shadows)
Answer: the colors that blend in with the natural landscape beyond 2. Grayer is better (looks like in the distance)
3. Match darker areas in the surrounding landscape – bring color chips home

Privacy slats
 Privacy slats come in either
metal or plastic vinyl.

 These slats are threaded
through the links of the chain
http://www.digginfood.com/2010/08/gutter-gardens/ http://www.metalmates.com.au/html/colorbond_fencing.html
http://www.ricksfencing.com/blog/chain-link-fencing-not-just-for-baseball-diamonds/ to create screening.

 Privacy slats now come in a
variety of style, textures, and
color including faux "hedge"
slats and ones that offer total
privacy.

 Privacy slats average $3 to $4
a linear foot for a 6" fence.

http://www.housetohome.co.uk/room-idea/picture/country-gardens-10-of-the-best/9
© Project SOUND http://www.macsfence.com/chainlink.html © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

The same color principles apply to privacy slats Why is she spending all this time on
fences/walls?

http://www.pexco.com/pages/PexcoFenceFeatherLock.aspx

Because hardscape – including fences/walls
© Project SOUND
– sets the stage for the garden © Project SOUND
http://besthomedecorators.com/black/black-vinyl-coated-chain-
link-fence-with-privacy-slats-flickr.html

Hardscape sets the stage… Options for dealing with an ugly wall/fence




 Hide it in plain sight – plant (put)


http://my.gardenguides.com/forums/topic/14267?page_no=3
http://garden-designs.org/2011/07/04/perennial-garden-design/ http://www.hortuscapes.com/CLWclassslides.html

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1/6/2013

Bladderpod – Cleome isomeris/ Isomeris arborea Bladderpod – Cleome isomeris/ Isomeris arborea

 CA, AZ and Baja
 Literally from the shore to
the eastern deserts in S.
California
 Wide habit distribution
 hills, bluffs, and stabilized
dunes of the sea coast
 Hills and desert washes at
the desert edges.

 CA’s only member of the
Caper family (Capparaceae)
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Isomeris+arborea


Characteristics of  Size:
Bladderpod is well suited for the water-wise
 2-10 ft tall (usually 3-6 ft)
Bladderpod  3-6+ ft wide garden
 Growth form:  Soils:
 Woody shrub; spreading shape  Texture: must be well-drained;
likes a sandy or rocky soil
 Develops interesting gnarled
branches with age – very  pH: any local, including very
decorative (like bonsai tree) alkali
 Moderate growth rate;  Light: full sun
moderately long-lived (30+ years
in Zone 1-2 or 2)  Water:
 Foliage:  Winter: resents too much
tolerates seaside conditions water; may need to plant on
 Medium-textured
(salt-spray; wind) but will be berm if drainage is poor
 Light gray-green; nice color smaller, shorter
 Unusual odor when crushed  Summer: Zone 1-2 to 2 (will
retain leaves); very drought
 Drought deciduous
tolerant – don’t over-water!!
Rejuvenate an old plant by coppicing
 Roots: long taproot – don’t move once
established
 Fertilizer: none

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1/6/2013

Bladderpod’s flowers and pods are fantastic Bladderpod is a perfect ‘attention grabber’
 Blooms:
 A little bit year-round  Attractive color foliage
 Feb-May is main bloom season in  Unusual and/or attractive
coastal lowlands shape
 Flowers:  Nice bark
 Unusual and showy – many  Pretty flowers/funky pods
flowers at one time  Wonderful wildlife visiting/
 Bright yellow, bell-shaped; feeding at it
exserted anthers (male parts)
 very attractive to bees (it’s
 Who has time to notice the
main pollinators) and
hummingbirds
fence !!!

 Seeds:
 Inflated, bladder-like pod
 Large seeds; may reseed if
happy

Another good choice would be a manzanita * Baja Birdbush – Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia

© 2005 TRNERR P. Roullard

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1/6/2013

* Baja Birdbush – Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia An unusual and lovely shrub of small tree

 Size:
 Very limited range (narrow endemic) :
 6-10 ft tall
San Diego Co. and N. Baja
 6-8 ft wide
 In Chaparral from 180-2500‘
 Growth form:
 listed as endangered under the  Erect, multi-branched evergreen
California Endangered Species Act. shrub
© 2005 TRNERR P. Roullard
 Reddish-brown bark; peels in thin
sheets to expose smooth, white
or gray-green stems – hence the
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3582,3583

common name ‘Palo blanco’;

 Foliage:
 thick, linear leaves - shiny green
above and pale green beneath
 Looks almost like an olive

©2005 TRNERR P. Roullard © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Garden uses for Palo
Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: well-drained, rocky Blanco
 pH: any local except alkali
 As a unique and rare
 Light: specimen plant – like a
 Full sun best manzanita
 Part-sun OK
 As a small tree – somewhat
 Water: like Crepe Myrtle in
 Winter: adequate architecture
 Summer: looks best with
occasional water (Zone 2 ore  In a white/moonlight garden
1-2) but very drought
tolerant.  Does well in large pots

 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils  Can even make an informal
hedge
 Other: leaf mulch/self-mulch
 Good for hot gardens

© Project SOUND http://www.flickr.com/photos/briweldon/5209373967/ © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

Hiding in plain Walls/fences can provide
sight really works! food and beauty
 Hanging pots/planters with greens, herbs

 Used to support melons & other vines

 Fruit trees espaliered along a wall

http://monkeyfister.blogspot.com/2009_04_26_archive.html

http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/landscaping/design/Chai
http://www.bellewood-gardens.com/2006/Garden%20Writers'%20Get-Together.html nReaction.aspx

 First introduce in the Roman times
Espaliers and later mastered in the European Espaliered Fremontodendron – England & CA
Middle Ages, espaliers were a way of
planting fruit trees and berry-
bearing shrubs in limited spaces
(small courtyards) because they are
trained to grow vertically along flat
surfaces.

 They can be created using fruit trees
and/or selected native shrubs/trees
http://thisbountifulbackyard.com/2012/05/13/mothers-day-trip-to-
chicago-botanic-garden/
(need to have proper growth
structure)

 Great use of narrow spaces

 An espalier can add color, texture,
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/02/stunning-flannel-bush-comes-with-prickly-
problems.html

smell and many other elements to a
dull wall/fence.


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1/6/2013

Currants & gooseberries – Ribes – make Espaliers can be formal or informal
good smaller espaliers

http://gardenista.com/posts/driveway-fruit-tarts-a-love-story

http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/a-currant-affair/ © Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/4492039839/

Espaliers require * Cascara – Frangula (Rhamnus) purshiana
support & pruning

http://www.featurepics.com/online/Espalier-Tree-Trellis-1629138.aspx

http://www.julieorrdesign.com/ten-attractive-native-garden-allstars

‘Ray Hartman’ Ceanothus © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

* Cascara – Frangula (Rhamnus) purshiana Cascara: Coffee Berry-like, but big
 Size:
 Western North America from southern  20-30 ft tall
British Columbia south to central California,  20-30 ft wide
and inland to western Montana
 Growth form:
 Rich bottom lands, sides of canyons, usually
 Large, winter-deciduous shrub or
in coniferous forests; moist soils small tree
 Closely related to other Frangula like  Short trunk – many stout, upright
Coffeeberry branches
 Outer bark is brownish to silver-grey;
twigs red-brown
 Dense growth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana  Foliage:
 Leaves large, simple: shiny green
above, yellow in fall
 Handle all parts with gloves – strong
laxative
© Project SOUND http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana © Project SOUND
Susan McDougall @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Flowers small – fruits showy Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: most
 Blooms: in spring - usually April-May  pH: any local
 Flowers:  Light:
 Small, yellow-green; you have to  Sun along coast; part-shade
look to see them probably best in most gardens
 Insect pollinated – good bee plant  Can take quite shady conditions
 Fruits:
 Rather like Coffeeberry  Water:
 Ripen late summer/fall http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=57199  Winter: water in dry spells
 Very pretty – and loved by birds,  Summer: likes regular water –
bears and other critters Water Zone 2-3 or 3 (good near
a neighbor who waters a lot)
 Seeds:
 Fertilizer: light doses fine; best
 Large
with leaf litter/leaf mulch
 Easy to germinate with proper
stratification: 3-4 months  Other: prune to shape when young

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

13

1/6/2013

Cascara in the garden
Options for dealing with an ugly wall/fence
 Nice specimen tree
 Good for informal hedge/hedgerow
 Can espalier along a wall
 Great for damp, shady spots – for  Paint it to create a design element
example to north of pines
 Great wildlife plant

© 1989, Clayton J. Antieau
http://londonmarkets.overblog.com/tag/News
‘Living walls’ are  Paint/cover it to make it disappear
becoming popular
 Hide it in plain sight – plant/place

© 2004, Ben Legler

©2012 Vernon Smith © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Grapes are a classic way to hide a wall
Vines and climbers are age-old solutions
to hiding an ugly wall/fence

http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2011/04/infinity-fountain-installed-body-broken.html

http://landscaping.about.com/od/galleryoflandscapephotos/ig/Fence-
Pictures/Roses-Hiding-Chain-Link-Fences.htm


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1/6/2013

The wall at Madrona was pretty dull The Honeysuckles (Lonicera species)
before ‘Roger’s Red’ came to town  Arching shrubs or twining vines
 Family Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle
family)
 Native to the Northern Hemisphere.
 ~ 180 species, mostly from China (~
100 species); ~ 20 native to N.
America.
 Common garden vines:
 Lonicera japonica (Japanese
Honeysuckle, White Honeysuckle)
 Lonicera sempervirens (Coral
Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle)
 Local Natives: Lonicera hispidula,
Lonicera subspicata
 Many species have sweetly-scented,
bell-shaped flowers that produce a
sweet, edible nectar.

Honeysuckles can be
* Orange Honeysuckle – Lonicera ciliosa
trained to cover a
fence/wall
 Foliage of many species used
medicinally
 Hummingbirds love the
flowers !!!!.
 The fruit is a red, blue or
black berry containing several
seeds; in most species the
berries are mildly poisonous,
but our local native have
edible berries, and birds will
eat most honeysuckle berries.
 The foliage is eaten by the
larvae of some butterfly &
moth species
http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Lonicera&Species=ciliosa

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1/6/2013

* Orange Honeysuckle – Lonicera ciliosa Orange Honeysuckle -
a twining vine
 A plant of the Pacific Northwest –
British Columbia to Northern CA and  Size:
east to Montana  to 15+ ft long

 North slopes and creek and river  Growth form:
banks, mostly in moist forested areas  Semi-woody vine/climbing shrub
 Creeping, trailing, climbing or
twining habit – usually grows
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Lonicera_ciliosa.html

through other plants
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?2874,2877,2879
 Old vines can kill trees – kind of
like a boa constrictor

 Foliage:
 Medium to dark green, paired
simple leaves
 Winter deciduous

 Roots: trailing stems will root
http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Lonicera&Species=ciliosa © Project SOUND
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
where they touch the©ground
Project SOUND

Flowers are fantastic Orange Honeysuckle is for shady gardens…
 Blooms: in spring - usually May-  Soils:
June in our area  Texture: just about any
 pH: any including slightly acidic
 Flowers: (under pines, firs)
 Usually red-orange; may be
more yellow-orange  Light: light shade to quite shady;
 Trumpet-shape – typical of this is a forest plant
the Honeysuckles
 Water:
 In very showy clusters – this
plant is a show-stopper in  Winter: can take some flooding
bloom  Summer: likes moist soil – Zone
2-3 or even 3
 Hummingbirds love them!!

 Berries:  Fertilizer: likes organic
amendments/ richer soils

© 1997 John Game  Other: cannot take heat
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Lonicera_ciliosa.html

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Hide that Ugly Wall - Notes

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