In article , NewGarden.f424a59
@gardenbanter.co.uk says...

Hi. New to the forum. We've recently moved into a new build house with
a garden. After both of us living in flats our entire lives, this is our
first ever garden. We are based in Edinburgh in a Northish facing
garden.

The space is app 18x14 metres but part of this is taken up by a garden
room. There is an app 2m slope over the 14m from the house to fence
line.

We have a landscaper in at the moment building a retaining wall for a
patio that will come off the back of the house. The patio area is large.
6m wide. Worried we've made an error and it's too big but my other half
assures me it's perfect.

The retaining wall will be app 1m high.

We want to grow evergreen vine over this wall to help it blend in and
give the illusion of an extended green area. Does anyone have any
suggestions on a vine that will keep its colour and foliage all year
round, will be ok with a 1 metre high wall that stretches about 5
metres? Worried about root systems damaging the foundation over time as
well as the wall. The wall will is shade a lot of the year.

If by "vine" you mean you're looking for an evergreen self clinging
plant (which tolerates shade) then in Edinburgh, your choice is pretty
much limited to ivy. I'd suggest a yellow/gold variegated one such as
goldheart.

You will struggle to make it grow downwards *and* cling to the wall.
If it's not too late I'd suggest a second planting bed at the base of
the wall/edge of the patio.


The landscaper is putting in a garden bed on top of the retaining wall
app 20cm inches in and 20cm wide which will sit just flush with the
patio to aid in water run off and create a visible boarder to try & stop
people falling or jumping off onto the lawn. He suggested planting
crawling vines in here as well to grown down the wall. Any suggestions
on what to use here? Low lying and shallow root systems.

One of the vincas? They are hardy shade tolerant evergreen have
flowers and will sprawl downward. You could underplant it with small
spring buls such as snowdrop, crocus, the small daffodil FebruaRY GOLD.

(

I think I made an error and posted this a few days ago in the wrong
section.

Take a look at the weekly help post to newcomers, called something like
abc. It will explain all.

This usenet gardening group is NOT PART OF GARDENBANTER so you will
never get the best use of it via their pirated copy of it. It's a bit
like trying to watch a TV program standing on the pavement outside a
shop that sells TVs

Janet (Scotland)