On 2013-11-07 15:48:28 +0000, Spider said:

On 07/11/2013 13:02, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Our new bungalow has a detached concrete slab type of garage with an
asbestos roof. The roof is covered in green moss and so it doesn't
look so bad. The walls look awful as they just plain concrete. We want
something to cover the walls. So far we have one of those fast growing
vines and two virginia creepers growing up the walls but it would be
nice to have smething growing down from the moss covered roof. Any
ideas?

Steve




It seems to me that if you grow anything substantial down from the
roof, it will eventually block the light reaching the existing vines.
This is apart from (as has already been said) there being very little
sustenance for any plant to grow in up there.

You either have to be patient or, if you really want to grow something
on the roof, have it structurally assessed before setting up a roof
garden. Even the usual roof garden planting (sedums, sempervivums,
etc.) does not hang down, but it will attract bees and other insects.

If your garden were large enough and you had a vacant sunny plot next
to the garage, you could build a pergola along the length of the
miscreant wall, and grow wisteria. That would be a considerable
distraction!

And the other problem with planting to hide is that sometimes it has
the opposite effect and draws the eye! So if a structure such as you
suggest can't be used, something unshowy and evergreen would be best.
I'm a bit concerned that Stephen has planted virginia creeper because
it loses its leaves in autumn and Russian vine - which I suspect might
be the fast grower he means - is a nightmare to control. In fact, he
won't have to worry about anything growing from the roof because
shortly, the roof wil be invisible. This is a cautionary tale!
http://www.gardenersworld.com/blogs/...vine/3220.html
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 07/11/2013 16:52, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-11-07 15:48:28 +0000, Spider said:

On 07/11/2013 13:02, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Our new bungalow has a detached concrete slab type of garage with an
asbestos roof. The roof is covered in green moss and so it doesn't
look so bad. The walls look awful as they just plain concrete. We want
something to cover the walls. So far we have one of those fast growing
vines and two virginia creepers growing up the walls but it would be
nice to have smething growing down from the moss covered roof. Any
ideas?

Just a thought, if you have a wall that gets the full sun then that's
just the place to grow peaches against, failing that for cover and fruit
why not plant Kiwi fruit (actinidia) there are some self fertile forms
available. They would love the extra heat reflected from the wall.

On Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:36:58 +0000, David Hill
wrote:

On 07/11/2013 16:52, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-11-07 15:48:28 +0000, Spider said:

On 07/11/2013 13:02, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Our new bungalow has a detached concrete slab type of garage with an
asbestos roof. The roof is covered in green moss and so it doesn't
look so bad. The walls look awful as they just plain concrete. We want
something to cover the walls. So far we have one of those fast growing
vines and two virginia creepers growing up the walls but it would be
nice to have smething growing down from the moss covered roof. Any
ideas?

Just a thought, if you have a wall that gets the full sun then that's
just the place to grow peaches against, failing that for cover and fruit
why not plant Kiwi fruit (actinidia) there are some self fertile forms
available. They would love the extra heat reflected from the wall.

One wall is South facing so it's gets the Sun.Anything we plant needs
to be low maintenance because we are both disabled. Espalier peach or
kiwi is a possible.

Steve

--
EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. http://www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. http://www.swingnn.com
JustNN. Just Neural Networks. http://www.justnn.com

In article ,
Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:

One wall is South facing so it's gets the Sun.Anything we plant needs
to be low maintenance because we are both disabled. Espalier peach or
kiwi is a possible.

Actinidia is not.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote

Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:

One wall is South facing so it's gets the Sun.Anything we plant needs
to be low maintenance because we are both disabled. Espalier peach or
kiwi is a possible.

Actinidia is not.


And Wisteria certainly isn't.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

In article ,
says...

On Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:36:58 +0000, David Hill
wrote:

On 07/11/2013 16:52, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-11-07 15:48:28 +0000, Spider said:

On 07/11/2013 13:02, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Our new bungalow has a detached concrete slab type of garage with an
asbestos roof. The roof is covered in green moss and so it doesn't
look so bad. The walls look awful as they just plain concrete. We want
something to cover the walls. So far we have one of those fast growing
vines and two virginia creepers growing up the walls but it would be
nice to have smething growing down from the moss covered roof. Any
ideas?

Just a thought, if you have a wall that gets the full sun then that's
just the place to grow peaches against, failing that for cover and fruit
why not plant Kiwi fruit (actinidia) there are some self fertile forms
available. They would love the extra heat reflected from the wall.

One wall is South facing so it's gets the Sun.Anything we plant needs
to be low maintenance because we are both disabled. Espalier peach or
kiwi is a possible.

Espaliers are not low maintenance and kiwi is not self-clinging to a
flat wall.

For all year round, handsome, discreet and fool proof cover I'd
recommend plain green ivy hedera hibernica. If you know anybody who has
some they can give you cuttings to (very easily) root and plant them
around the garage footings.

http://www.spaldingbulb.co.uk/produc...vy-hibernica-/

Janet.

On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 10:41:43 -0000, Janet wrote:


Espaliers are not low maintenance and kiwi is not self-clinging to a
flat wall.


We are still thinking about it. As we are disabled we would need to
get some help initially but once in place what does it need apart from
pruning?

For all year round, handsome, discreet and fool proof cover I'd
recommend plain green ivy hedera hibernica. If you know anybody who has
some they can give you cuttings to (very easily) root and plant them
around the garage footings.


There is lots of variegated ivy already on the garden and house walls.
We want something different for the garage.

Steve

--
EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. http://www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. http://www.swingnn.com
JustNN. Just Neural Networks. http://www.justnn.com

In article ,
Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 10:41:43 -0000, Janet wrote:

Espaliers are not low maintenance and kiwi is not self-clinging to a
flat wall.

We are still thinking about it. As we are disabled we would need to
get some help initially but once in place what does it need apart from
pruning?

"Apart from pruning"! If it gets going, that's a major task - and,
while it bleeds if pruned at most times of year, you often can't
tolerate a year's growth before hacking it back.

Something that might do well is Campsis. That grows like ivy, with
flowers at the top where it leaves the support. It is deciduous,
but the flowers are spectacular in July/August. And, for such a
use, it should be low-maintenance.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 11:22:54 +0000 (GMT),
(Nick Maclaren) wrote:

In article ,
Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 10:41:43 -0000, Janet wrote:

Espaliers are not low maintenance and kiwi is not self-clinging to a
flat wall.

We are still thinking about it. As we are disabled we would need to
get some help initially but once in place what does it need apart from
pruning?

"Apart from pruning"! If it gets going, that's a major task - and,
while it bleeds if pruned at most times of year, you often can't
tolerate a year's growth before hacking it back.


That's what we want. It's a big garage to hide and it's well away from
the house.

Something that might do well is Campsis. That grows like ivy, with
flowers at the top where it leaves the support. It is deciduous,
but the flowers are spectacular in July/August. And, for such a
use, it should be low-maintenance.


That's a possible. Will it cling to concrete? Ivy doesn't.

Steve

--
EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. http://www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. http://www.swingnn.com
JustNN. Just Neural Networks. http://www.justnn.com

On 08/11/2013 11:22, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 10:41:43 -0000, Janet wrote:

Espaliers are not low maintenance and kiwi is not self-clinging to a
flat wall.

We are still thinking about it. As we are disabled we would need to
get some help initially but once in place what does it need apart from
pruning?

"Apart from pruning"! If it gets going, that's a major task - and,
while it bleeds if pruned at most times of year, you often can't
tolerate a year's growth before hacking it back.

Something that might do well is Campsis. That grows like ivy, with
flowers at the top where it leaves the support. It is deciduous,
but the flowers are spectacular in July/August. And, for such a
use, it should be low-maintenance.

Campsis can be very invasive after several years once it has established
itself. It can spring up several metres from its planting point (just
search the internet on "Campsis" and "invasive" if you doubt me on this.
Read some of the negative comments he
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/644/. I speak from experience. I
spent several years trying to kill it with glyphosate and it still kept
coming up). I do not know if it is invasive everywhere it grows, but I
will /never/ plant it in the ground again.

--

Jeff