Hi,
I am looking for suggestions as to which type of plants would suit my need to create an obscuring screen of vegatation as quick and easy as possible. Let me explain:
I have a space on the second floor approx. 6' x 30' in between my apartment building and the house next door. Because the space is on the second floor, the height of the house is only about 7'above the space, so it doesn't block too much light depending on the angle of the sun, but is a factor to consider. The roof of the house is flat with gravel for drainage, so there isn't an issue of the shadow from a peak creeping across the area.
The exposure is southwest and receives a lot of daylight from early morning until late in the day. The only things blocking the light is the small balcony (4' x 8') about midway of the apartment above and the roof mentioned earlier.
The screening of greening is needed to reduce exposure from the sun into my bedroom almost all day. I have put up tinfoil on the window to reduce and reflect the light, but this becomes redundant when I open it to get some air. The window is rather large (4' x 6'), so I get a lot of light.
The solution I have come up with is to put up lattice and choose a plant or plants to grow on it. The question for me is what type(s) would be best? I would like to have something that grows quickly, that is low maintainance, and will grow a fruit or vegetable, if possible. The main priority is protection from the sun during the summer months.
Because the space is elevated, it is well travelled by squirls and racoons, so they are also to be considered when choosing plants. I have blood-and-bone meal and the dirt, I just need suggestions as to the plants.
As an aside, I figured that if I am to go to all the effort of setting up the space for the window screening, I might as well extend myself to putting in some other plants like herbs and spices. Any suggestions for low-maintainance/high-yield options that will work in my area.
I am going to the garden centre next week sometime to explore the selections, so any suggestions before then will be helpful.
I live in Ottawa, Ontario and don't know what "zone" I am in.
Thank you for the time spent reading this missive, and for any possible suggestions or solutions to my situation.
E. Graeme Smith
-- Never argue with idiots, they only drag you down to their level then beat you with experience :)