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

--
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

"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...

nice to have smething growing down from the moss covered roof. Any
ideas?

Have googled extensively but can find no reference to a plant
called 'smething'

Phil

On 07/11/2013 13:18, Phil Gurr wrote:
"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...

nice to have smething growing down from the moss covered roof. Any
ideas?

Have googled extensively but can find no reference to a plant
called 'smething'

Phil


Probably because you didn't press the "Any" key.

But regarding the planting, I'd forget trying to have something growing
down from the roof, nothing for it to root into and to get feed and
water from.
You could however put a row of troughs along the edge of the roof and
grow hanging plants such as trailing geraniums, nasturtiums etc. over
the summer months but remember you will have to block the lower side to
keep the troughs upright, and they will need frequent watering.

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!

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

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.

If you've got one of "those fast growing vines" (Russian vine? aka mile-a-minute vine) and two Virginias creepers, in about two years you won't be able to find where you put the garage. So I wouldn't worry about planting anything else.

On 2013-11-07 19:26:09 +0000, kay said:

'Stephen Wolstenholme[_3_ Wrote:
;994726']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?


If you've got one of "those fast growing vines" (Russian vine? aka
mile-a-minute vine) and two Virginias creepers, in about two years you
won't be able to find where you put the garage. So I wouldn't worry
about planting anything else.

Two years?! I'd give it two months from next spring.
--

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

On 07/11/2013 23:28, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-11-07 19:26:09 +0000, kay said:

'Stephen Wolstenholme[_3_ Wrote:
;994726']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?


If you've got one of "those fast growing vines" (Russian vine? aka
mile-a-minute vine) and two Virginias creepers, in about two years you
won't be able to find where you put the garage. So I wouldn't worry
about planting anything else.

Two years?! I'd give it two months from next spring.

Don.t be so sure.
I planted Russian vine to cover a set of old pig sty's years ago 3 years
later I decided to hell with it, I had about 7ft of growth, so hacked it
off at ground level. The following spring it took off and almost covered
the buildings in one season.
David @ a yet again wet side of Swansea Bay.

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.

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 2013-11-08 08:48:45 +0000, David Hill said:

On 07/11/2013 23:28, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-11-07 19:26:09 +0000, kay said:

'Stephen Wolstenholme[_3_ Wrote:
;994726']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?


If you've got one of "those fast growing vines" (Russian vine? aka
mile-a-minute vine) and two Virginias creepers, in about two years you
won't be able to find where you put the garage. So I wouldn't worry
about planting anything else.

Two years?! I'd give it two months from next spring.

Don.t be so sure.
I planted Russian vine to cover a set of old pig sty's years ago 3
years later I decided to hell with it, I had about 7ft of growth, so
hacked it off at ground level. The following spring it took off and
almost covered the buildings in one season.
David @ a yet again wet side of Swansea Bay.

Obviously it needed showing who was boss! Someone down the lane from us
planted 3 on a fence about 24' long. The house up for sale but I expect
it's just a coincidence!
--

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

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.