Espaliers, palisades and garden fences for privacy and protection.

Wires and espaliers:

Removable espaliers and climbing wires that can clipped of  will make it easy to do repairs or to repaint the wall.

For air to circulate sufficiently it is important to keep a distance from the wall (+/- 20cm). A wide range of kits to suit every taste can be obtained from specialist shops. For best results choose a stable construction which will cope with the weight of plants and the pressure from the wind. Remember that galvanized plastic coated wires and attachments are very durable. Don't forget to insert spaces between long wires.

Because different plants needs different climbing aids it is important that the individual struts should not be too thick for climbing plants to cling to.Thicker battens can be suitable for winding plants.

Train woody species up wooden supports. The shoots might later get constricted if you use thin wires. After some time, tie individual branches or shoots to their support. To make absolutely sure that the plant will not get constricted , make the ties in the shape of a figure of eight loop around the shoot and support. Remember that you won't need any climbing aid for plants that can cling to walls without support (example Ivy, climbing hydrangeas, Virginia creeper).

N.B : These plants may damage the stonework when left to grow into the cracks on damaged rendering.

Palisades:

Palisades which will also gives protection from the wind can be used for height differences. Anchor low palisades in a gravel bed but taller ones will need the support provided by being set in a layer of concrete. Make the wood more durable along a slope with a layer of roofing felt.

Support posts:

Avoid inserting wooden supports straight into the soil as they would quickly rot. Rather screw them into a stable post shoe that should stand in a concrete foundation. Anchoring support posts in various models are available in the trade.

Wooden protection:

Really effective wood protection agents cannot avoid being toxic. Instead of burning treated wood it should be disposed off as sensitive waste. The following points are important for wood protection agents :

  • Only treat wooden structures that need to last long with chemical agents.

  • Be aware that wood-preserving agents containing creosote will release harmful substances to plants especially in summer.

  • Use boron and copper salts for wood that has been pressure treated. Make sure that the protective agent in wood has been penetrated to a minimum depth of over 1cm before you buy it. Also take note that the quality of impregnation can't be indicated by looking at the outside color of the wood.

  • Treat wood with holes bored into it or wood that is sawn after treatment with boron salts. It will not attain a sufficient depth no matter how many coats of paint you givie it.

  • It is best to use durable woods like oak, robinia, larch and pine.

  • Store your wood properly and make sure that it is seasoned.

  • Build foundations of gravel or use ready-mixed concrete to avoid direct contact of the wood with soil when storing.

  • Water should run off all parts of the wood (not only the structure itself) into the soil.