Greenery/climbing vines to hide chain link fence?

SusieBW

We're planning to fence our back yard this spring.  One side is already chain link, because that's what the neighbor has.  The other side has posts in place from an old chain link, so we will probably just use them to chain link that side.  Across the back, our yard tapers down to a stream.  I don't want to ugly that up, but we need to fence it to keep our dog in.  I'm thinking of using a rustic-looking post and beam, with wire mesh inside it (which will barely be visible until you walk right up to it). 

Either way, I hate the look of chain link fence, but it's economical, and we can't use stockade or anything solid because the water has to be able to spread in the event that the stream crests and floods yards.  I'd like to plant some climbing vines or greenery to hide the chain link fencing (with the neighbor's permission, of course), but I'm not sure what I should use, or whether it will have any negative effect on the integrity of the fence.  Ideas/advice?

In the alternative, I guess I could plant some small arborvites or shrubs along the fence on our side to hide it.

another KT

you need to figure out your zone, how much sun will it get, do you want it evergreen, is it in a wet area (stream), do you want it to flower, I also go for bug resistance and disease resistance, and think about how invasive you want it.  Your master gardner extension can be very helpful.  And is RI doesn't have one Mass does.

SusieBW

Good call.  We do have a master gardener extension (I actually just went to a class they put on last night!), so I probably will check in with them.

I'm zone 6a, and the existing fence is mostly in the shade, but parts are full sun.  Hmm, I hadn't thought of that, but maybe I'll need different plants because of that.  Same with the other side of the yard, too, but it's really shade and partial sun.

alliapistor

You may just want to plant shrubs or something that does not climb in front of/blocking the fence and not plant something that will climb on the fence. 

In my old house and my current one, there were chain link fences when I bought them.  Both were covered with ivy, honeysuckly and other climbing vines from the neighbor's yards and common area.  The climbing vines eventually pull the fence down and damage it.  At my old house, the fence is literally bent in places because of the pull of the vines.  At current house, it leans in places because the vines pulled it a certain way.  Once you have vines on chainlink, it is hard to get rid of them.  You have to cut them off each square by hand, which is very time consuming.  (They also have a tendence to come back.)

SusieBW

alliapistor:

You may just want to plant shrubs or something that does not climb in front of/blocking the fence and not plant something that will climb on the fence. 

In my old house and my current one, there were chain link fences when I bought them.  Both were covered with ivy, honeysuckly and other climbing vines from the neighbor's yards and common area.  The climbing vines eventually pull the fence down and damage it.  At my old house, the fence is literally bent in places because of the pull of the vines.  At current house, it leans in places because the vines pulled it a certain way.  Once you have vines on chainlink, it is hard to get rid of them.  You have to cut them off each square by hand, which is very time consuming.  (They also have a tendence to come back.)

Thanks for this.  This is sort of what I was afraid when I said that I didn't know if vines might have some effect on the integrity of the fence.  I guess I will talk to DH about potentially planting some shrubs or tall flowers or something to hide the fences.  He was on board for the vines, but that was before either of us did any research or anything into the idea.  Thanks again!

clea

I had vines once.  But the darnn poison ivy is such a poser and joined in, uninvited.

It was not fun getting rid of it all.

HRP22

Climatis is light, and won't harm the fence.  However, I'd really avoid putting in a chain link fence.  Ask the neighbor if you can put in something else in it's place.