Guest Author - Hellie T.

An English garden is a riot of summer colour and fences, hedges and walls, help to set off the garden blooms. They also provide shade and privacy and can divide the garden into distinct areas if needed for practical reasons – such as hiding dustbins, sheds or a play area.

Hedges

English gardeners like to encourage wildlife into their gardens so hedges provide valuable habitat for small garden birds and mammals they also absorb CO2 as they grow so they are “greener”.

If you have the space then hedges provide just as much privacy as fences but they will enhance the green and lush effect of your garden. They do require care and attention so you must be prepared to trim them at least once a year but they will provide you with all-year interest with the changing colours of their leaves and berries in the autumn.

If you would like a neat evergreen hedge then box is ideal. Yew will stand lots of trimming and like box can be used for topiary if you want to try your hand!
Beech hedges or hazel are much loved by birdsbut take up more room.
Privet can look beautiful in the silver and gold varieties but the dark green will set your flowering plants off to a T.

Hedging roses will give you a dazzling show in summer.
Check in your local garden centre or rose catalogues as they will tell you which types of roses will make the best hedges in your area.

Low growing plants such as lavender (both English and the dwarf varieties), santolina, upright rosemary, curry plant or hyssop make excellent short hedges and can stand being trimmed.


Fences

There are many types of wooden fences on the market. Choose one that suits your garden and house - and if possible go for fences that allow some air to pass through them. This causes less wind buffeting to your plants.

They can add to the beauty of your garden being a decorative feature in themselves but keep the design simple.
There is a huge selection to choose from - willow screens, bamboo screens, closeboarded fencing (short heights look good with trellis on the top), picket fences, wattle (good for clematis and honeysuckle) split rail (excellent for climbing hops), hurdles or lapped boarding.

The good thing about fences is that they come in a wide variety of heights and their effect is instantaneous. Check that the wood they are made from is from environmentally managed forests.

Remember that they need to be maintained which means painting them or applying wood preservative once a year. If you are growing climbing plants up them put in fixings which allow you to remove them and gently lower the plant to the ground out of the way of the maintenance.

You can also put up a cheap and cheerful fence while waiting for the hedge you have planted to grow.


Walls

Brick walls are a luxury few of us today. If you live in an older house you maybe lucky enough to have painted or brick walls extending around your property, on which you can grow a wealth of climbers such as jasmine, wisteria, roses and fruit trees.

A walled garden creates its own micro climate, giving protection to the plants from the cold winds and frosts so often you are able to grow less hardy plants and fruit like peaches and apricots. A walled garden was a Victorian essential.

Stone walls even short ones make good places for plants liking good drainage and damp shady walls can be places to grow ferns. Low retaining walls make good places to grow herbs such as thyme and dianthus.

Stone or brick walls are the most expensive way to edge your garden but if you are a reasonable DIYer you could create a low wall round say a herb patch.

Enjoy your garden!