Growing Bougainvillea Up a Fence

Choose the cultivar of bougainvillea to be trained along the fence. Purchase enough plants to locate a plant every three to five feet. Plants measuring 8 to 10 inches are large enough to bloom, as most are pretreated by growers.

Locate plants in holes as deep as the container and twice as wide. Bougainvillea may remain in containers if you are in a climate where temperatures drop to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Container plantings can be stored indoors for protection during winter cold.

Train stems of bougainvillea along the fence. Fasteners are not needed for this clinging specimen, as it will happily climb the fence with a little direction.

Water each plant thoroughly. Once it's established, allow the bougainvillea to dry out slightly between waterings. Water stress creates even more blooms on the already prolific bloomer. Fertilize bougainvillea infrequently with a plant food for blooming plants if desired.

Prune the plant to keep shoots at 18 to 20 inches for best performance. Pruning does not limit the blooms of the bougainvillea, which last for weeks at a time.