Would you let your neighbor paint a "shared" wall?

Or even just a french drain system for managing rainwater, even?

In the long run, it might be worth trying to figure out what those pipes are, and if they even need to stick around any more. And since there's nothing planted in the ground right now, there may be no time like the present...

Reading along for the first time.

Couple points come to mind.
You don't have a shared wall, this is their garage.
I'm wondering why you thought it was all right to put a trellis there, and have plants going up the side of their garage, but questionable if you could paint it.

In any event....

Put up your trellis, and plant a sweet potato vine.

Damn things will grow anywhere, will reach its roots out past the 4" soil, and doesn't care what kind of soil it's growing in.

When I brought home a crepe myrtle, the was a wee little plant growing in the pot next to the tree. I didn't pull it out, but just stuck it in the ground along with the tree.

It was like Little Shop of Horrors. By the end of the summer, if I had let it, it would have covered a well over 100 square feet, most likely more.

The 2nd picture below? That really pretty, but good luck with keeping a sweet potato vine so contained.

I was talking to a woman in the neighborhood, and she just let's her's grow up a trellis, cuts it down to the ground when it's cold, and let's it come back up again.

If you want more color, plant some morning glories, they'll grow fine anywhere too, and reseed themselves.

yes murrayana


but also
Philadelphus coronarius


and also we refer to ossage orange that Nth American indians used as bow wood as mock orange.


Do you know what time it is? Its tool time.

I recon i'd hire a small jack hammer and crack/break the concrete.
10 Amps; 11,000 RPM of hammering grunt. Double sealed ball bearings and two "lip-sealing" protective rings, Automatic Restart Protection.... (drool)
or possibly a concrete saw.
You could leave the conrete in the ground and let plant roots find their way around it.

Mo will love it.

Yikes! I fell behind.

Like I said, this is the 3 year plan -- a make do plan until the heavy work of rebuilding/remodeling the garage area happens so I'm really just looking for a quick fix to make my yard more enjoyable until then.

It most certainly could be an old septic tank or french drain system. The cement doesn't seem to be very thick so I suspect it was put there to cover something.

Continuing the fence would cover up their window and I doubt they'd want that. Plus, we talk through that window all the time so I'd hate to lose our conversation pit.

I doubt the paint would effect resale value. The buyer would have to come into our back yard to see the wall. Honestly, this wall isn't visible from anywhere on their property.

It is sunny and could be a garden but I have a big vegetable garden in the front yard where the light and soil are better. Also, with kids and pets it's nice to just have some open area. I'm not a big lawn person but a little bit of lawn is nice.

I can't put in a trellis -- that's what started this whole problem. The cement foundation prevents anything from being planted too deep.

As to the dog -- he's a very good dog and only digs when I bring out a shovel. He's helping, not hurting! He just loves to photobomb. The other half of my yard is VERY shady with lots of plants and he leaves them all alone. He does, however, enjoy lolling about in freshly turned earth.

Here's why I was thinking wisteria:

Hmmmmm! A previous owner of your place didn't disappear unexpectedly, did s/he?

We better ask farmnerman if big Louie knows anything.

My conceret wall is mine red bricks on top and white bottom....now the neighbor painted the side they see bottom brown without asking ...can they legally do that...can they be told to change back to white bottom?