FURNISHING HOUSE WALLS AND PORCHES, BOUNDARY WALLS AND FENCES The space between windows, as well as the height of walls (particularly in the case of bungalows) is often a limiting factor. Wall shrubs rather than climbers are frequently the best choice in such circumstances (see select list p. 86 for suitable subjects). Most climbers, and especially the more vigorous vines, honeysuckles and clematis, have a tendency to grow rapidly to the highest point, and, in so doing, often become a nuisance, blocking gutters and growing under roof tiles, while the lower part of their stems become bare and unfurnished. Here, well-trained and well-pruned wall shrubs are often to be preferred and south- or west-facing aspects give the opportunity to grow some interesting and colourful exotic wall shrubs, such as Abelia, Abutilon, Callistemon, Coronilla glauca, Cytisus battandieri, Piptanthus laburnifolius and Punka granatum. There are many others from which to make a choice. However, some climbers such as large-flowered hybrid clematis, honeysuckles, loniceras and the more vigorous climbing roses are much loved and people tend to plant them in the most unsuitable places. To some extent, this problem can be tackled by timely pruning (see "Mastering the Craft of Pruning", pp. 311 to 318), but the scene can often be satisfactorily transformed by the use of low-growing shrubs to mask effectively the lower parts of stems and bare areas of wall. Particularly effective for this task are Potentilla, Cistus, Coronilla, Phlomis, Fuchsia (hardy), Santolina, Rosmarinus (rosemary) and Lavandula (lavender). The access path which surrounds most houses usually creates bays and borders of varying widths which, if well cultivated, provide good growing conditions for climbers, wall shrubs and associated foreground shrubs; plants which, if well chosen, can blend together harmoniously. Care should be taken to choose only shrubs of dwarf habit for positions under windows. Provided a border width of at least 2ft(6ocm) is available, any of the plants mentioned in the previous paragraph will be useful in this position against a sunny wall while Daphne, Hebe, Skimmia and Sarcococca can be used in similar situations near a shaded wall. Planting may be considerably restricted when paths or paved areas are carried right up to the house wall. In such circumstances, it is certainly worth removing paving to form at least a 2ft(6ocm) wide border-even a single slab, say 2ft by 2ft(6ocm by 60cm) lifted from a suitable position against the house wall in the patio area will enable a well-prepared site to accommodate a climbing plant, perhaps a clematis, with a potentilla, hebe or hardy fuchsia at its feet to mask its leggy stem and shade its roots. Boundary walls or fences are usually between 5ft and 8ft(i.5m and 2.5m) in height and have no windows and are therefore less restricting, but it may be necessary to choose hardier subjects away from the warmth of house walls-pyracantha, climbing roses, jasmine and so on.