What can I plant in front of a cinderblock wall?

I want to plant something to hide a 3.5 foot cinderblock wall it measures 70 feet long and 3.5 feet high, its used as a retaining wall in my back yard, but is old and ugly and would cost thousands to replace it. I was thinking about planting geraniums on the wall (there is dirt) so that they hang down but the wall is slightly tilted and I dont want 70 feet of geranium pressure pulling it down. What can I plant very close to the wall that will grow up and cover this wall? Is there a type of vine that is not too aggressive and will pop up everywhere? Any suggestions.
What can I plant in front of a cinderblock wall?
English Ivy would work. It will cling to the blocks and is slow enough for you to keep up with trimming. It will also add beautiful fall colours in September and into late October. You'll see the wall in the winter time but for the months that you'll be using the backyard, you'll hardly know that the wall is there. If you plant the vines at the base and up along the top edge of the retaining, the vines will trail down and eventually meet. To completely cover, this may take a few years with absolutely NO trimming but the result will look better than a cinderblock wall. Some will recommend Boston Ivy but that is more prone to grow into the mortar of the wall and can cause it to become weakened.
Reply:Morning glories are ok but in some areas, they are considered annual plants (you would have to replant them every year, tearing down the old). They're self-seeding and would add a nice touch of colour during the summer. My English Ivy is a more permanet solution. :) Report It
Reply:hemp?
Reply:Practically any perenial will do to hide the wall by planting them in front of it, could be that you could paint it or put stucco on it yourself and greatly improve its appearance too.
Reply:Lady, if what you want is a quick fix, have I got a treat for you!



Morning glory. As long as there is some sunlight at that spot, these puppies will crawl all over that wall. Need seeds? Email me with an address and I'll send you more than enough. Be advised -this will be for NEXT year.



Works for me!
Reply:You can use just about anything. Tall perennials planted in front. Something on top to hang over as you suggested. On that note, I doubt geraniums or any other plant like that can push over a cinder block wall. You could use boxwood and disguise it with a short hedge as well. Your choices are pretty much limitless within the boundaries of you zone. And, I can't think of any vine that won't, at some point, end up where it isn't wanted. Let your imagination be your guide.
Reply:Any vine that will pop up everywhere is going to be aggressive and take over. If you do a Virginia creeper or something to that effect, you will for sure cover the wall, but you will also attract bugs, mosquitos , etc...Is there enough room for some sort of shrub. Something that you can keep pruned up to your satisfaction?
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