On Sat, 02 Aug 2003 22:27:47 +0000, keith wrote:
But as a non-gardener, without much time to spare, which is best to let me
achieve a decent screen , ideally within about 6 months without too much
cost?

Keith,

To achieve a screen that fast, you will need to put 10 foot fence panels
up!! As an alternative, add trellis to the top of your fence, put some
mesh on the fence itself (to provide something for the plants that need it
to grip onto) and grow climbers. This generates a fairly fast, very thin,
fairly esy to look after screen.

Its not quite the right time of year, but in general the usual advice is
to grow fast growing annual climbers up this sort of screen (e.g. sweet
peas), whilst the perennial permanent planting is growing in.

Beware of the weight of plants grown like this, they need GOOD support.

Plants you could consider are ivy, clematis, rambling roises, golden hop
(although this dies back in winter), jasmines (some are tender and not
suitable), climbing hydrangea (good for shade, but takes a while to get
going), boston ivy, and even - if you are careful russian vina (aka mile a
minute) - but that takes some cutting back to keep it under control.

Make sure you buy healthy plants, dig them a good hole, and give them some
fertiliser, and water well whilst they establish. Its just a matter of
keeping them tied to and twisted through the mesh / trellis, and spreading
them out to provide good all over coverage after that.

Sarah