Climbers to dress up Colorbond fence

That looks fantastic @royq. Many thanks for sharing your first project with us. I hope it's the first of many, as I'm sure this will inspire Workshop community members.

What's the climber that has been planted?

Those members who are keen to do something similar might also like to check out this project, which includes step-by-step instructions - https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/planting-and-growing/how-to-make-a-wire-espalier-trellis

Another option for a colourboard fence is to build a vertical garden like @kel - https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Gallery/the-vertical-gardens-that-i-built/cns-p/13903

Thanks again Roy. Looking forward to your next post.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/4372#Comment_4372

Thanks @Jason

I planted Chinese Jasmine Star because I know they work well in the climate and grow really fast. Added bonus they have a pretty white flower in spring. They were only $5 each too so no complaints.

I actually did an Instructable on this project a couple of weeks ago with a little bit more detail on how it was done.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Garden-Trellis-and-Climbing-Hedge-on-Existing-Fenc/

Cheers, Roy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/64332#Comment_64332

@royq,

Fantastic job with the plants, it will look amazing in no time with minimum space lost, well done!!

Cheers,

Barbara

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/94787#Comment_94787

Thanks @Baretta11,

I've just got to make sure by brother-in-law keeps training them on the cables or they will grow straight up which will look messy.

Cheers, Roy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113854#Comment_113854

@royq,

Hi Roy,

Yes it can be hard for others to have the understanding and passion to follow through with things of this nature but perhaps this project will mean you'll be visiting your family more often which is a good thing and you can to take stock of the progress and do a little nip and tuck if you need to!! ha-ha

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124583#Comment_124583

@Baretta11, Haha thanks Barbara, I go there very often, we've redone all of his lawns and landscaping over the last couple of years, I'll keep an eye on the vines.

Cheers, Roy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124583#Comment_124583

I went and checked out the climbers yesterday, they've gone crazy! Grown quite a bit in only four weeks. Looks like they've been training them very dilligently too 🙂 Another couple of months and the fence will be covered.

20180422_163338[1].jpg

Cheers, Roy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131788#Comment_131788

@royq,

Hi Roy,

Wow, I can see one runner in the pic is almost at the top of the fence, seems it's only been a few weeks??

Glad the family have been doing their bit to keep your good works on track!!

I've been fiddling recently with my indoor plants, shifting them around the house and generally having fun with it all and decided I need a trip to Bunnings for a few more. ha-ha

Look forward to seeing the fence or should I say, not seing the fence in the near future!!

Cheers,

Barbara

dst19

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136174#Comment_136174

Hi @royq!

I just saw this post and got massive inspiration.

Can you please share your latest progress pictures?

dst19

Whoops, replied to the wrong person last post 🙂

Now replying to royq.

Hi!

I just saw this post and got massive inspiration.

Can you please share your latest progress pictures?

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/4943#Comment_4943

No problem @dst19, I've tagged @royq for you so he is alerted to your post.

And let me extend a very warm welcome to the Workshop community. We're rapt you could join us and that you have already been inspired by one of our member projects. I'm sure you will get a lot more great ideas and inspiration as you browse the thousands of posts already made on the site.

Please feel free to post anytime you need a hand or have something to share. We look forward to reading about your projects and plans.

Jason

Cas

What wire did you use?

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5079#Comment_5079

Hi @Cas,

Welcome to Workshop. I trust our community members will provide loads of helpful advice and inspiration for your home improvement projects. Feel free to post anytime you need a hand.

Hopefully @royq will be able to get back to you shortly about what wire he used, but I do know that in a similar Bunnings project the team used this - https://www.bunnings.com.au/pinnacle-3-2mm-316-marine-grade-stainless-steel-wire-rope-per-metre_p4310783 It's also available in 4mm and 5mm versions.

What are you planning?

Jason

Aido

Hi Roy - love your work!

i was wondering how you affixed the wire to the colourbond (can’t quite make out the technique and fixings from the photos).

Could you elaborate a little more on this?

many thanks - Aidan

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5761#Comment_5761

Hi @Aido,

Many thanks for joining in the discussion. I'm sure @royq appreciates the feedback and will be happy to assist you and answer your question about the fixings as soon as possible.

In the meantime, please let me extend a very warm welcome to the Workshop community. Feel free to post anytime you need a hand or have something to share.

Jason

mel2795

Hi Roy,

What climber did you use?

I am in Bathurst NSW with heavy clay soil and of course frosts.

Mel

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/6326#Comment_6326

Hi @mel2795,

Welcome to Workshop. We're really pleased to have you join in the discussion.

In a previous post on this discussion, Roy shared that it was Chinese Star Jasmine that he planted - https://www.bunnings.com.au/140mm-chinese-star-jasmine-trachelospermum-jasminoides_p3640650

Let us know if you need a hand with anything.

Jason

Louisecomau

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65304#Comment_65304

Hello everyone,

The work and photos on this thread are a great inspiration! My fence is the identical colourbond color and the green really seems to make this pop.

Does anyone have any alternative ideas to the Chinese Star Jasmine? I have allergies to its flowers 🙁

I have passionfruit on the shortlist... maybe a ficus pumila - although it might struggle on the wire, any other ideas?

Cheers,

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95528#Comment_95528

Hi @Louisecomau,

Welcome to Workshop. It's great that you could join us. I trust you'll get loads of helpful advice and inspiration for your projects around the house and garden from our amazing community.

Let me tag the wonderful @Noelle who might like to assist by recommending a climbing plant for you.

Feel free to post anytime you need help or have a new project to share.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95528#Comment_95528

@Louisecomau

Hi there Louise is it?

Yes the star jasmine is lovely but what you have to know about the plant you choose is just how vigorous or not it grows as it could initially look lovely and then you find it has gone mad and the weight of the plant is nearly bringing your fence down!! I'm a bit skeptical that this won't be the case for most creepers grown like this but I would humbly stand corrected if others in Workshop haven't experienced this?

I planted a lovely ornamental passionfruit on an ugly old fence that went around an old brick electrical sub station near the road at the start of our rural driveway. I had a bit of a cactus garden bed out from the fence about 700mm and I am constantly struggling to uncover the plants from all the excessive growth to the point that I'm considering removing the garden as I cannot extend it further and the cacti and other plants are almost always completely burried under the branches and tendrils.

My suggestion for a fence and to have a plant that is managable might be a rose?

They can be espaliered and roses don't tend to grow miles of branches except perhaps for the banksia rose which is very pretty, has a small flower about 25mm, yellow or white and has no thorns. Perhaps others on the forum will make suggestions but you could also google "espaliered plants" to see what other plants could be suitable for your situation.

You must also be careful that your plant doesn't cause a headache for your next door neighbours either as such things can make for silly squables?

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95528#Comment_95528

Hi Louisecomau

Climbing Fig (Ficus pumila) would not work on a wire support - it climbs by attaching to rough surfaces like render, brick, etc without damaging the surface. It doesn't twine so would require a major effort on your part to cover the fence.

Not sure of your location but you could look at Wonga Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana). As well as the white species, there are several named varieties with flowers ranging from cream and yellow to pink. Bower Plant (Pandorea jasminoides) is related and also available in many varieties with flowers from pink to white.

Sarsaparilla Creeper (Hardenbergia violacea) in either its natural mauve or selected white form is spectacular when in flower.

Other suggestions include Pink Trumpet Vine (Podranea ricasoliana), Trumpet Bush (Tecoma), the white flowered Potato Vine (Solanum laxum) and Bignonia.

Just a few suggestions to get you thinking!

Louisecomau

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114346#Comment_114346

Thanks Jason, Bareta, and Noelle for your expertise. Lots of food for thought.
Im in northern Melbourne and the plant would be in full sun / part shade covering about 1.5m of a 6m fence.
Most of the good climbers are the flower power sort which rules them out unfortunately.
If i tweak the design a bit it may open up some options (different climbing surface, or just settle on some prefab screening)
Have lots of thinking to do!
Thanks again

MikeHH

Hi Roy, I have an almost identical situation. Qu: what hardware did you use - e.g. screws / wire and how did you tension the wire?

MikeHH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/6913#Comment_6913

Many thanks for joining in the discussion @MikeHH.

Let me tag @royq so he is alerted to your questions.

Welcome to Workshop. We are looking forward to seeing your own project come to fruition. Feel free to post anytime you need a hand with something around the house or garden.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65643#Comment_65643

Hi @MikeHH, I used a roll of stainless steel cable, probably around 3mm diameter (ordinary fencing wire would also work), and some small type 17 self tapping roofing screws. To get the cable to tighten I wound it around the screws in a clockwise direction so that as the screws tighten down they grab the cable and pull it tight. Hope this helps. Roy

MikeHH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95601#Comment_95601

Thanks Roy - most helpful. Will let you know how I go. MikeHH

kporter34me

Hi @royq

This inspired me so much that I went straight to Bunnings and asked for assistance in getting the products to do this. I too have Jasmine but the guys talked me out of this style telling me it is too spread and to use the flower mesh which will cover the fence, then allow the flowers to feed through and spread entirely. Are they telling me the right thing, because I really love this look you have created and worry that my entire fence covered in Green wire sheets may detract the look a little?

Would love your thoughts on this. Have attached image of what I ended up purchasing.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/6968#Comment_6968

Hi @kporter34me , glad you were inspired. 🙂 I went with the wires to create a larger mesh, my idea came from a photo I found on houzz of a similar thing done on the front of a house and once all grown in you can still see the house through the growth. I guess it depends what you're more into, the mesh would definitely be easier, but it will hide the fence entirely. Horses for courses, there's no correct answer 🙂

Cheers, Roy