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It isn’t unusual for a home purchase to include an ugly feature like a neighbor’s fence on the lot line, a cement retaining wall or even a bare wall between widely-spaced windows. While not ideal, you can turn a negative feature into a very attractive feature. A little creativity and some thinking outside the box may result in unexpected positives. Sometimes, planting a few shrubs or climbing plants can make all the difference by just covering an eyesore.Other times, that negative can be repurposed into a feature. If you're facing the challenge of a concrete retaining wall, consider the creative potential of incorporating retaining wall sleepers. These specialized materials can be strategically used to not only enhance the wall's appearance but also to transform it into a unique focal point. Here are more suggestions to stimulate your creativity.

Cover with Bamboo. If you can see your neighbors’ fence, try covering your wall with bamboo. Bamboo will fit into the landscape because it is a natural material. Bamboo will make a great backdrop for living plants or it can stand alone as an attractive yet inexpensive covering for an undesirable feature in your yard. Bamboo fencing comes in rolls and can be easily removed, so it is ideal if you are renting.
Try vertical planting. Add trellising to the wall and use it to produce food. Grow climbing plants like peas or cucumbers and turn an eyesore into a productive growing space. Amend the soil at the foot of the wall with compost and maybe fertilizer and plant your seeds. For very little work, you will harvest fresh vegetables all summer.
Paint your wall. If you have a less than attractive wall that forms part of your patio, paint it. You could choose a color that complements the siding and trim on the exterior of your house. That is a safe choice along with neutrals. However, you could take it up a notch and paint the exterior wall the same color as the interior living space leading to the outdoors. Use an exterior paint that your painter has matched to the interior color and the effect will be to visually connect the two spaces into one continuous room.
Try Espaliering. This is a method of growing fruit trees against a wall. The tree is regularly pruned to remove any branches that want to grow toward the wall or out from the wall. Fruit trees are especially adaptable to this method of growing and will produce more fruit than you might expect. Some non-fruiting trees can also be grown with this method. It is not difficult to learn how to prune these trees, but it does require more involvement than with a regular growing method. The effect is almost a piece of art.
Cover with vining flowers. These can be plants that are grown in the ground at the foot of the wall or you could top the wall with planters and allow the vines to hang downward. Climbing flowers like autumn clematis, vining hydrangea or climbing roses would all be beautiful and cover the ugly wall completely with foliage and stunning blooms each season.
Paint a mural. Cover your wall with a mural. Your mural could be about the nature around the wall and include flowers and birds and butterflies. You could use the wall to paint a scene of how the area your home is located in used to look. Give the illusion of distance by painting a field of sunflowers disappearing in the distance or distant hills. There are artists who specialize in painting murals or ask an artistic family member to take on this project to make it extra special.
Use a living wreath. Purchase an oversize wreath frame and fill it with sphagnum moss or other material that will hold water. Then, plant with succulents or other plants that will do well in the light conditions you have on your wall. This type of wreath will need regular watering throughout the season if there is not enough rainfall that soaks the wreath. You can immerse the wreath in water or regular gentle spraying with a hose will also work.
Incorporate a sculpture. Use your wall for a backdrop for a large sculpture or other feature. Choose a sculpture that complements the style of the home you live in. A large metal sculpture would look stunning against a contemporary home. If you live in an old farmhouse, you might want to feature an antique piece of farm equipment. You will definitely want lighting to highlight this feature against the wall.
Use multiple planters. Cover your wall with window box-type planters in different sizes. Fill them with all different types of flowers to produce a riot of color on your wall. Keep all the boxes the same color or paint them to be as diverse in color as the flowers. Be sure to use enriched soil in your boxes with compost added. Regular fertilizing or a slow-release fertilizer will give you continuous flowering throughout the season.
Make a projector wall. If you have a big enough wall, consider hosting outdoor movies. Even on a front wall of your house, post a sign to invite your neighborhood to a movie night. Everyone brings their own chair or a blanket to sit on and their own snacks. You can also purchase TVs that are made to be outdoors. Invite your friends over for the ball game, a new release movie or an old classic.
Incorporate a water feature. An empty wall is a great opportunity to add a water feature. You could use a free-standing fountain or mount the water feature on the wall itself. Not only will it be a stunning feature, but you will enjoy the sound of the water falling as well.
Utilize specimen plants. Plant a specimen tree or shrub in front of the wall. Choose a plant with an interesting leaf structure that will add interest. An Acer Japanese Maple would be a good choice. Light the tree so that its shadow adds to the impact of this stunning plant.