Chainwire is cost-effective, tough and quick to install, but nobody puts it up for the looks. The easiest way to fix that is to let nature do it: a climbing vine turns a bare metal fence into a living green screen. Creepers soften the hard lines, add colour, cover the gaps for privacy, and hide anything unsightly behind them. A wire mesh fence is close to the perfect host for a climber, and unlike a timber fence, it will not rot from the extra moisture a healthy vine brings.
Why vines and chainwire go so well together
The open diamond mesh gives a vine exactly what it wants: a ready-made trellis to grab onto and grow through, top to bottom. As the vine fills in, it creates shade, privacy and a splash of seasonal colour, and it links your buildings and garden together into one green whole. Deciduous climbers are especially clever on a fence, because they screen in summer and then drop their leaves to let winter light through. For balconies, courtyards and small gardens with little ground but plenty of vertical space, a vine on the fence is greenery you would otherwise have no room for.
Choosing the right vine
Not every climber is a good tenant. The best vines for a fence are well-behaved, reliable and not too heavy:
- Clematis
- Sweet pea
- Jasmine (including star jasmine for scent)
- Guinea flower
- Honeysuckle
- Moonflower
- Morning glory
For flowers with real impact, wisteria brings romance over a run of fence, bougainvillea dazzles with long-lasting colour and draws pollinators (give it room, it is vigorous), and Boston ivy, Virginia creeper and ornamental grapes put on an autumn show. If it is scent you are after, star jasmine, wax flower and chocolate vine are among the most fragrant.
Just as important is what to avoid. Steer clear of the heavy, aggressive or invasive climbers that overwhelm a fence or their neighbours:
- Hydrangea (climbing)
- English and common ivy
- Trumpet creeper
- Japanese or Chinese wisteria (very heavy and vigorous)
- Aggressive or "vicious" vines that smother other plants
- Pink trumpet vine
A quick word with your local garden centre will confirm what thrives in your climate, and it is worth checking that anything you plant is not toxic to pets.
Growing them without wrecking the fence
Vines are wonderful, but they are not free of consequences, so a little planning keeps everyone happy.
- Mind the weight. Every climber adds height and weight as it grows, and a vigorous one can overload a light fence over time. Make sure the fence is up to it, and keep the vine trimmed to a sensible level.
- Match the vine to the goal. For lasting privacy, choose perennial vines, which grow slowly but return year after year. Annuals grow fast but only last a season. Planting the two together lets the annual fill the gaps while the perennial establishes.
- Keep on top of it. Vines grow quickly in good sun and will choke a fence if left alone. Regular trimming keeps the fence functional and the vine healthy.
- Experiment. Mixing perennials and annuals, foliage and flower, gives you colour and texture through the year.
The takeaway: yes, vines are good for a chainwire fence, and chainwire is good for vines, as long as you choose a well-behaved climber, keep it trimmed and let a perennial carry the long-term screening. Done right, the plainest fence on the property becomes the greenest. For other ways to work with a chainwire boundary, see the characteristics of a chainwire fence.