So, if you have a wooden fence, you may want to spice it up a little and bring life to it.
The best way to do this is to grow climbing plants.
However, you want to make sure that you choose the right plants that will grow on your fence.
In This Article – We’ll be showing you some of the best climbing plants to grow on your wooden fence and also how to grow them.
What Are The Best Climbing Plants for a Wooden Fence?
Wooden fences require much more care and maintenance as compared to other material types, so you need to ensure that any climbing plant you grow on it is compatible.
Vines and plants that hold a lot of moisture could create problems as they can cause stains at best, and rot at worst.
Furthermore, you should avoid planting woody vines on a wooden fence as they tend to grow very quickly and it does not take much before they have completely overtaken a fence.
In addition to being difficult to resolve, woody vines have the potential to cause structural damage to the fence, resulting in a replacement.
Also, woody vines are much heavier, so it can cause fence damage even if it does not cover the whole fence.
The best type of climbing plant for a wooden fence is a non-woody annual and below are a few of the most common ones.
Honeysuckle Vine
For those that want one of the best selections to attract pollinators to your garden then honeysuckle vine is for you.
You’ll get all kinds of visitors, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, etc.
However, this plant is practical and creates excellent cover for exposed fences thus adding lots of privacy to your yard.
The fragrant flowers come in a variety of colors so you will easily find a plant that perfectly matches your garden aesthetic.
Virginia Creeper
The thought of high levels of care is something that tends to turn a lot of homeowners off.
The great thing about Virginia creeper is that it is very low maintenance.
This way, you will have a much more natural looking plant that will fit in with a rustic or cottage garden.
These will attract a lot of birds as they will love to feed on the berries.
Just remember that the berries are not eaten by people and should be removed if children are present in the garden.
Keep in Mind: With this plant being low maintenance you can prune them to your desired amount as they become thick and dense quickly if not looked after.
Clematis
Now, when it comes to picking a nice climbing plant for that wooden fence everyone’s hanging for, a lot of times people grab clematis.
While there are several varieties of this plant, they come in all different colors and will grow to different heights, so you’ll want to think about what you want before you make that final decision.
Some clematis plants will grow up to twenty feet once they mature, so these can be used for a privacy screen.
This climber also has some pretty amazing flowers that you can have in every color imaginable including red, white, yellow, purple and so much more.
Clematis is not the highest maintenance one on this list, but it does need some moderate spring pruning to keep it under control.
Star Jasmine
Jasmine is probably one of the most fragrant plants and that’s a big reason why many people will be interested.
But it’s also relatively easy to grow and its not a fast growing plant so that it will gradually cover a fence over the course of a few years so there is limited risk of damage.
Star jasmine does best in a little warmer climate and favours zone 7 just fine and its not uncommon for it to do well in zone 6.
Take home message: The plant likes the sun but will need moist soil.
Morning Glory
This plant is a herbaceous vine and is perfect for growing on a wooden fence and bonus Morning Glory is a stunning plant.
Morning Glory is a plant of very bright colors, and will cover your wooden fence well and acts as a great privacy screen!
Plus, these plants grow quickly, but they won’t cause damage to your fence so you are getting the best of both options.
What we really love about morning glory is that it comes in so so many colors and blooms right up until the first frost, honestly amazing!
On the downside, some people may consider these types of plants weeds as they will take over very quickly if left to grow without pruning.
So, the downside for climbing plants is you may require a bit more maintenance than other types of climbing plant.
Sweet Pea
Sweet pea is definitely one of the most popular options for climbing plants, and is likely in gardens everywhere in the world.
Never let the popularity dissuade you, sweet pea is famous for its beautiful flowers and stunning fragrance.
The good thing about this plant is it is fairly easy to train, so it is perfect for beginners when it comes to climbing plants who want to not get into something hard.
One should note that the vines can become woody with age so be aware that it may become more difficult to grow on a wooden fence.
Pros And Cons of Growing Climbing Plants On a Wooden Fence
There is not a lot of downsides to growing climbing plants on your wooden fence!
The only real downside would be if they potentially damage the structure of the fence.
However as long as you choose some fence friendly plants, there won’t be much of an issue!
On the positive note – Having climbing plants growing on your wooden fence will improve the overall look of the fence and make your garden feel much more lush and vibrant.
Not to mention some of these plants smell great, which makes for a really pleasant experience out in the garden.
There is also the fact that it’s not just humans that love these plants – If you want to attract pollinators to your garden, there are plenty of climbing plants for this too!
If your fence is visible or has visibility whether a little or a lot, climbing plants will add some level of privacy to your garden.
Tips For Success
If you’re thinking of growing climbing plants and vines on your fence, here’s a few things you should consider if you want to be successful.
Have a look at our dos and don’ts to ensure your plants will be happy and healthy.
- Don’t be tempted to take cuttings or plants from wild areas such as woodlands. While this could save you money, there’s no guarantee the plants will suit your garden. Many a homeowner has learned this the hard way, when an innocent wooland cutting they took turns into an invasive plant of their nightmare. The only route to go is to a nursery.
- Do consider the specific needs of your chosen plant. Some plants will flourish in full sun, while others need a shadier spot. You will need to research what its specific needs are in advance, because you won’t be able to move your fence.
- Don’t try to force unsuitable plants to grow on your wooden fence. If your heart is set on something like wisteria, this is not going to do well on a wooden fence. So, you may have to consider an alternative or maybe purchase a separate trellis and grow your plant there.
- Do not consider any woody vines. There really is not much else we can say other than they will take over the top and sides of your fence with a very good chance of causing damage to it.
Conclusion
A wooden fence has compatibility with a limited range of climbing plant.
Anything woody could cause damage while plants that retain large quantities of moisture could cause a rotting fence.
Here, we outline some of the best plants to grow on a wooden fence, and how to get the most from your chosen climber.