What can I plant that will screen a fence but very thinly to not lose space

Have lots of colorbond fencing between house and granny flat. Three 'courtyards' need some screening to soften the fences. Make them more homely.
I want something that I can plant very close to the fences to screen them and create a softer environment but I want to trim them very close to the fences as I don't want to lose much grass as areas are small.
What can I plant very close to the fences that I can trim very narrow.
I don't want to use climbers just want to plant and then trim up periodically.
Thanks

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw3-h2PISmk04cdwcoqVaigp

 

Lattice work and vines?

 

Agree that lattice would be ideal. Passion fruit and chokos. On a recent visit to a fruit and veg shop I couldn't believe they were actually selling chokos for over $5 a kg.

 

I would paint the fence grey first! Then look at any of the great suggestions above

 

I was going suggest same thing - straight and narrow Lilly Pilly (ideally) or even Lilly pilly resilience/select if you trim regularly. You’d be able to keep them hedged within about 50cm with straight and narrow. Probably need 60-70cm with the others once they get bigger.

 

Agree - ideally paint black / monument then plant to make the fence disappear.

 

Interested in this one but someone told me it's still gets that disease psyllium or whateverr it's called

 

What are your measurements referring to? Do you mean 60 cm from the fence to the outer edge of the hedge?

 

No need to. I'll just cover it with the hedge.

 

Spaghetti vines - very compact.

 

Psyllid resistant varieties are readily available.
(Not sure why they still sell non-resistant varieties!)

 

Lilly Pilly straight and narrow , backyard bliss or Acmena should work. They are susceptible to pest and diseases Psyllid, Pimple Gall and Scale etc even the resistant varieties .

They are rainforest plants so need alot of water.

I use clumping bamboo in 300ml pots for a similar fence (water lovers also).

You could leave the plants in pots be it lilly pilly, bamboo or whatever , thats 300 or 400 ml of the fence. That may save some grass area

 

Someone at a gardening service was saying that even the resistant ones still get it. I will need to do a bit of research because I'm confused now

 

They are pysllid resistant (not proof) - can still get physllid, but unlikely to be badly affected, particularly if healthy, (I.e some leaves will be affected but it won’t damage the tree). Resilience are ubiquitous around Brisbane and almost always look healthy. They take regular watering in the early couple of years to establish, but grow very quickly and are drought tolerant once well established. Straight and narrow is pysllid resistant variety of pinicle. We planted around two border fences and they provide a great looking tight screen.

 

Good to know about the disease.
How close can I get them to the fence? What would be the total projection to the outer (lawn) side? I.e. when they are at fence height, how narrow/skinny can the hedge feasibly be trimmed to whilst still maintaining full leaf coverage on the facade?