Simple Fence Line Landscaping Ideas & Best Plants for Fence Lines (Low Maintenance Tips)

A budget garden makeover gives your outdoor area a whole new lease of life without costing the earth. Fencing is a big part of any garden and simple fence line landscaping ideas can give you a fresh and cheap makeover. From using evergreen plants for year-round colour to climbing plants for extra interest, these cheap garden makeover tips will help you get the garden design of your dreams. Read on to find out.

Editor’s Note [22.10.2024]:

Our article “Simple Fence Line Landscaping Ideas” was first published on November 12, 2014. Today we have enhanced all the original content. New sections include five new landscaping ideas, options such as vertical gardens, additional ideas for the best plants for fence lines and final thoughts.

When it comes to simple and effective fence landscaping there are several options to choose from. Choose plants to soften the hardscapes and complement decorative features like trellises and panels. Whether you go for practical, like chain-link, or classic, like picket fencing, these will give your garden a makeover and suit your needs and style.

All plants along a fence line usually involve softening, camouflaging, or playing up the stylistic theme of the hard landscaping. In most cases, a wooden fence is a straight-edged hard-scape element, which requires a bit of softening visually. Evergreen plants are typically the best plants for fence lines. There are other fences built with different materials that require tall plants to hide them altogether.

Chain-link fencing is a practical and cost-effective option often used for functionality rather than looks. It may not be pretty, but it is durable and secure so great for enclosing garden spaces. You can dress it up with climbing plants (such as sweet peas, clematis, wisteria, etc.) or trellises to add some greenery and interest. It is versatile and low maintenance making it a popular choice for gardeners looking for a simple solution.

The third type of situation can be characterised by the traditional white picket fencing. This type of fence evokes a stylistic theme of a cottage garden, whether the material is PVC or the classic wooden type. Traditional cottage garden plants are often grown by homeowners along such a picket fence, giving that feeling of tranquillity from the folksy or rustic setting. When thinking about landscaping fence lines, there is a practical side and an aesthetic side to the plants.

Trellises and arbours are great and simple ways to dress up fence lines. They add vertical interest and can support climbing plants to create a lush green backdrop. By adding trellises, you can turn a plain fence into a feature wall covered in flowers or greenery.

Arbours are a lovely focal point and can create shaded areas perfect for sitting or dining outside. Both trellises and arbours are easy to install and customise to suit any garden style so are a low-cost landscaping idea that adds property value.

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to dress up your fence? Try decorative fencing panels. Available in many styles these add texture and visual interest to a plain fence and turn it into a feature. These panels are easy to install and can be customised to your garden style, modern, classic or rustic. With decorative panels, you can turn the fence into a focal point without the need for major renovations.

These are a simple and effective way to landscape your fence. By laying wooden slats horizontally or vertically you can create a modern and stylish look and privacy and security. The gaps between the slats allow light and air to pass through and still provide separation from adjacent spaces. Wooden screening can also be customised with different finishes and treatments to match your garden style.

These are a classic and stylish option for your garden boundaries. Their sleek lines and intricate details add a touch of glamour and are low maintenance. Choose these for a formal look and pair them with climbing plants if you would like to soften the appearance. These also deliver unobstructed views and can be finished in various ways to match your garden style.

Timeless and solid additions to any fence. Using these materials gives a big visual impact and a sense of permanence. Stone walls or brick piers can be a beautiful backdrop for climbing plants or a stylish contrast to softer garden elements. They are durable so are low maintenance, a practical and long-lasting option for your fence line.

For the remainder of this article, we will focus on using plants for a fence line including choosing the best plants for fence lines.

When planning your fence line plantings, it is essential to consider the practical aspects of sunlight and water requirements. These factors, along with the type of fencing and space considerations, will significantly impact the success of your landscaping efforts. We discuss these factors below:

The practical side of planting involves, in part, the sunlight requirements of plants. Landscaping locations with a southern or western exposure should be in beds grouped with full-sun plants, while landscaping locations with an eastern or northern exposure should be done with shade plants.

Fencing creates a sort of microclimate, and this microclimate has a direct effect on the plants. Consider a fencing landscape that has a southern exposure, which is in full sun. This environment is sheltered and thus will experience higher temperatures. Some plants cannot handle higher temperatures and enjoy partial shade, while other plants thrive in higher temperatures.

The plants which may suffer in this environment are those which need breezes to avoid succumbing to fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Other plants like tall perennials that may need staking in other locations may benefit from the fence as they grow up fencing instead of a stake.

When planting along fences it is important to consider the water needs of different plant groups. Plants have different water requirements depending on the type and stage of growth. Some plants like many perennials and shrubs prefer moist soil, others like succulents or drought tolerant varieties (e.g. Lavender, Sedum and Russian Sage, etc) like truly little water.

The microclimate created by the fence can affect soil moisture; a fence can provide shelter that reduces evaporation and allows the soil to retain more moisture. A fence can also create dry spots especially if it blocks rain or wind. So, choose plants that match your garden’s moisture and adjust your watering accordingly for healthy growth.

Other practical considerations for fencing lines involve more than just the plants. The type of fencing used plays a big part in how you design and maintain your garden. For example, wooden fences need maintenance, like painting or staining, so you need to keep plants away from access.

Vinyl fencing is more durable and needs less maintenance so you can plant closer to it without any maintenance issues. Chain link fences are great for climbing plants, but you need to consider plant placement to avoid blocking maintenance tasks. Knowing the type of fencing helps you plan how to plant effectively and have access to ongoing care.

A wooden fence, which requires regular maintenance like periodic painting or staining requires plants to be spaced away from the fence to allow access for the maintenance. On the other hand, vinyl fencing does not require this type of regular maintenance and may allow plants to be placed closer in proximity to the fence.

This consideration of space must involve thoughts of how large some plants will grow as they mature.

Another space consideration aligned with maintenance involves plant care tasks such as pruning shrubs. While the idea of vine plants festooning throughout a fence may be a good idea when using chain-link fencing, it may not be a good idea when using wood fencing since staining a wooden fence is made impossible by the vine plant material.

This problem can be remedied by choosing an annual vine so that the maintenance can be accomplished before installing the plant. Morning glory flowers are a good choice in this situation because the annual maintenance of the wooden fence can be done in the spring.

Another way to get around the problem of maintaining a wooden fence when using vine plants is to put the vine plants in portable containers. The containers can be attached to the fence allowing the vines to hang down. For maintenance to the fence, the containers can simply be removed and then re-installed upon completion of any maintenance.

There can be quite a difference in how attractive a fence line appears visually when a bit of consideration is given to how it is going to turn out. This does not mean a particular style has to be chosen, like that of the cottage garden style discussed earlier. It just means that some aesthetic considerations can make a marked difference. For instance, the fencing can be made to look like a seamless part of the entire yard when fence plants are considered in relation to the rest of the landscape.

Repetition is a landscape design principle that creates a feeling of unity throughout the entire landscape. The feeling that one plant bed flows into another can be done by repeating, for example, maiden grass from a nearby bed along the fence as well.

Selecting the best plants for fence lines and for the landscape as a whole should be done with seasonal interest in mind, not simply for a single season or part of the year.

There are various ways to accomplish this task:

1. Grow plants such as red twig dogwood in addition to any evergreen shrubs for the winter. Against fencing with ample sunlight, the red twig dogwood looks great, especially if the fencing is white.
2. Late-blooming bushes and long-blooming perennials are great plantings for summer. The bushes may include the rose of Sharon and Bluebeard
3. Climbing roses offer a beautiful way to soften the look of fences, especially chain-link or wooden ones. Varieties like 'New Dawn' or 'Iceberg' add seasonal colour and can thrive in sunny spots with minimal maintenance once established.
4. Bamboo is perfect for creating a natural, green privacy screen along your fence. Clumping varieties are best for fence lines as they won’t spread uncontrollably, offering a sleek and modern look with minimal care.
5. Hydrangeas provide lush foliage and large, colourful blooms throughout the summer. These flowering shrubs work well against wooden fences, adding texture and seasonal interest to your garden.
6. Clematis is a versatile climbing plant that thrives on trellises or fences, providing vibrant flowers from spring to late summer. It’s low-maintenance and available in a range of colours, making it ideal for adding life to any fence type.
7. Honeysuckle is a fast-growing climber that offers fragrant flowers and attracts pollinators. It grows well on chain-link or wooden fences, providing natural coverage and a sweet scent throughout the summer months.
8. Boxwood shrubs are evergreen and ideal for creating a neat, structured hedge along fence lines. These low-maintenance plants are perfect for formal gardens and can be easily shaped with regular trimming.

If you wanted to have a look around at some of the styles of fences mentioned in this post then you could start by visiting our traditional fences range.  Similarly, if you feel that your landscaping line needs some protection from the wind and natural forces, then you can take a look at our taller fences to see if there is anything that would suit your purpose.

For more information on our higher fences take a look at our video below.

Adding fence landscaping ideas makes a big difference to your property border. From selecting plants to soften and complement fences to decorative elements like trellises, each one has its own benefits. Whether you opt for evergreen shrubs for year-round interest or picket fencing for a traditional cottage garden look, the right approach can boost your garden’s aesthetic appeal and create focal points.

Chain link fencing is practical and durable, while stone and brick are timeless. By choosing the best plants for fence lines and materials you can have both style and function, so your fence line becomes part of your garden design. Simple fence line landscaping ideas add visual interest and make your outdoor space more enjoyable and personal.

Do you have questions or need help with your fence line landscaping ideas? We are here to help. Whether you need advice on what to plant, how to boost your garden’s curb appeal or which fencing to choose, we can help.

For more information about creating a beautiful outdoor space with simple fence line landscaping ideas or to chat about your garden design requirements:

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