Lattice panels are definitely a solid upgrade from chicken wire—good call there. I installed some lattice fencing for a client last spring, and funny enough, their golden retriever was determined to find a loophole. He spent a good week trying every angle before finally accepting defeat. Dogs can be persistent little escape artists, can't they?
As for climbing plants, they're usually pretty low-maintenance once established, especially ivy or clematis. Just make sure you keep an eye on growth direction occasionally—I've seen ivy get overly ambitious and start creeping toward gutters or window frames. Nothing major, just something to be mindful of. Personally, I've got jasmine climbing up my own lattice panels at home...smells amazing in spring and summer, plus it hides any imperfections nicely.
"Dogs can be persistent little escape artists, can't they?"
Persistent is an understatement. My lab mix took it as a personal challenge when I installed lattice panels last summer. She spent days methodically testing each panel for weaknesses—like a furry velociraptor from Jurassic Park. Eventually, she gave up, but not before leaving a few teeth marks as a reminder of her valiant efforts. Ivy sounds tempting, but I'm wary after seeing my neighbor's ivy practically swallow their shed...maybe jasmine is the safer bet after all.
Your lab mix sounds exactly like my border collie—she treated every fence I built as a puzzle to solve. I remember spending an entire weekend carefully installing chicken wire around my veggie garden, feeling pretty proud of myself. Well, she watched me the whole time, patiently waiting. The next morning, I found her sitting happily among the tomatoes, tail wagging, with a neat little hole she'd dug underneath. Lesson learned: always bury the fencing at least a foot deep.
As for ivy, you're right to be cautious. It looks great at first, but it can quickly turn into a never-ending battle. Jasmine is definitely safer and smells amazing too. Another option I've had luck with is honeysuckle—it's hardy, grows fast enough to cover gaps, and doesn't try to take over your entire yard. Plus, hummingbirds love it, which is a nice bonus.
I get the appeal of honeysuckle, but honestly, I'd be careful with it too. I planted some a few years back thinking it'd be a nice, manageable vine... and now it's practically everywhere. Maybe it's just my yard, but it seems pretty determined to spread. Clematis might be a better bet—it's beautiful, stays put, and still attracts hummingbirds. Just my two cents though, every garden's different.
Haha, honeysuckle definitely has a mind of its own. I planted some thinking it'd be a cute little vine to cover an ugly fence... now it's practically staging a hostile takeover of my backyard. Clematis sounds like a solid alternative—does it handle shade well, though? I've got this one spot that's kind of shady and tricky, and I'm always on the lookout for something that won't just shrivel up and die there. Also, speaking of dogs and gardens... has anyone found a plant that dogs actually dislike enough to steer clear of? My pup seems determined to trample everything I plant, no matter how prickly or fragrant. Maybe he's just stubborn (or secretly enjoys gardening chaos), but I'm open to suggestions!
