What low maintenance screening plants for fence and wall?

[veronica50]

 

 

Hi ,

The first pic  is for my back colourbond fence . Not sure what to plant .. thinking of Lilly pilly but would like something low maintenance with no berries or invasive roots . 
any ideas ? 
thank u .. 

2nd pic to hide the brick wall . Will remove the geranium n want something less invasive . 
thank u 

[EricL]

Hello @veronica50 

Thank you so much for sharing the photos, they make the situation so much clearer.

For the back Colorbond fence (first photo):

You’re right to be cautious about Lilly Pilly. While they are hardy and attractive, many varieties do produce berries, which can attract birds and make a mess. If you’d prefer something low-maintenance, neat, and without invasive roots, here are a few options:

• Viburnum tinus: Evergreen, glossy leaves, compact growth, and clusters of small white flowers in winter to spring. Easy care, responds well to pruning, and no messy berries like Lilly Pilly.
   
• Westringia (Coastal Rosemary): An Australian native, very hardy, low-maintenance, and good for hedging. It has fine grey-green foliage with small lilac flowers. Doesn’t drop fruit and tolerates sun and wind well.
   
• Photinia ‘Red Robin’: Provides a lovely flush of red new growth that contrasts with green leaves. It’s tidy, quick-growing, and low-maintenance once established.
   
• Murraya paniculata (Mock Orange): Evergreen shrub with fragrant white flowers. Non-invasive roots and great as a hedge. Just note that in some regions it can seed a little, but much less messy than Lilly Pilly.

All of these can be clipped into a hedge along the fence, giving you a green screen with minimal fuss.

For hiding the brick wall (second photo):
 

Since you’ll be removing the geranium, something structured and reliable will soften the wall without being invasive. Some ideas:

• Camellias (sasanqua types): Evergreen, glossy leaves, and beautiful flowers in autumn to winter. They provide year-round cover and are low mess if pruned.
   
• Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides): If you’d like a climber, this is ideal against brick. It’s evergreen, with fragrant white flowers in summer, and not invasive.
   
• Hydrangea macrophylla: If you’d like a lush, softer look, hydrangeas provide seasonal colour and large leaves, though they do need a bit more water.
   
• Clumping Bamboo (non-invasive varieties like Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’): Tall, fast-growing, and excellent for screening. Very low-maintenance once established.

If you’d prefer a hedge-style shrub there too, you could repeat Westringia, Viburnum, or even Japanese Box for a neat, classic look. 

I also suggest having a look at this guide: How to choose a hedging plant by @Adam_W. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[veronica50]

Thank You Eric for the helpful advice .. what do you think as a centre tree for the 2nd pic . Crape Myrtle ? 

[JacobZ]

Hi @veronica50,

A smaller variety of crepe myrtle could be nice, but they are deciduous, so they would lose their leaves in the colder months.

If you were fine with this, a smaller variety like a Slender Black or a compact Midnight Magic could be a good option.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob