Hello all! I am a longtime lurker of this sub. I live on a corner lot in zone 6b. We have this hunk of land but honestly I don’t have the greenest thumb. None of it is fenced either, but then I found this sub and I realized I don’t have to do a boring fence – I could make a living one! I am very interested in growing things that are native and non toxic to humans – if I grow one edible thing in my yard, I don’t want the potential of mistakes 😂 (ohhhh you didn’t eat that one did you?)
For a large portion of my yard, I was going to go with a mix of persimmon, pawpaw, black and raspberries, currant, hazelnuts etc. I also have the perfect, protected place for a peach tree and a cold hardy pomegranate (not native but I LOVE pomegranate!) with the intention of shaping most into hedge-like shapes. We have no dogs, so I’m not worried about things getting out but not being so exposed on the corner would be nice.
On the other side of us, there’s a power line, septic line, and generally much less space so I am going to avoid trees. But, I was thinking it would be nice to still have a divider of some sort, then I started to think of just diy-ing a simple half trellis (like 3 ft high?) and letting some vining natives go crazy – maybe things like crossvine, clematis, coral honeysuckle. I was just going to use old fence posts and wire or something simple and similar (since most of it will be covered eventually anyways)
I guess my question is – is anyone else doing this? Is this ‘allowed’? It’s my first time living in city limits. I have checked my local regs and I’m following the rules for what to plant and where/how far from certain things, but I don’t want to be the reason a new rule is made. Plus I guess I just don’t see anyone else doing things like this and I wonder if there is a hurdle I’m not seeing?
I also know this is a lot of work – I’m raising from bare root plants that I can find locally and affordably and just doing a little at a time. It’ll take a decade or so, but I don’t see us leaving this house ever because it’s perfect for us. Later, as these big trees and such get established, I’ll fill in the holes as needed with (I’m hoping) herbs and smaller natives, but this is a lifelong project and I’m just getting started! Neighbors are good with it too! (Because I will share of course!)
I’m attaching a sketch of my plan, please forgive the chicken scratch! But I will take any advice, plant suggestions, warnings, etc. I love to learn! I will take any trade-outs, and plant suggestions as well!
TLDR: am I doing the living fence thing right? Is it ok to just make a freestanding trellis ‘fence’ for my borders? Plan sketch in image.
