Climbing Plants

Garden Uses
Climbing plants are valued for their ability to cover walls, tree stumps, or buildings, or to grow through branches of robust trees and shrubs. Climbing plants may be self clinging, twining, scrambling or trailing.
Evergreen climbers provide handsome foliage all year round, where as deciduous climbers can display attractive foliage from new spring growth, through to providing brilliant colour into autumn.
Many climbers including clematis, honeysuckle and jasmine are cultivated for their colourful and fragrant flowers and some produce ornamental fruits. Vigorous climbers such as wisteria can be used to hide unsightly buildings, ivies can be used to cover low objects, such as old tree stumps.
Climbers can be used to form attractive screening by way of using a trellis to support. Pergolas and pillars are ideal for supporting climbers as they can be admired from all sides. They also make very useful container plants.

Choosing a climber
Consider the aspect of the intended site before choosing a climber. Many need a sunny wall to thrive, some will tolerate a shaded wall but flower and fruit best in full sun. For a shaded wall use a robust climber such as an Ivy.

Types of support
Choose a support that will accomodate the eventual height, spread and vigour of your chosen climber. Wooden or plastic trellis is a more reliable support for twining climbers. Pergolas and pillars must be strong enough to support plants throughout their life span.

Cultivation
When planting climbers against a wall or fence. position the plant at least 45cm from the base. Once established this allows the roots to receive sufficient rainwater. After planting water and apply mulch each spring. In hot, dry periods water regularly.

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