The key to success when planting a climber is to make sure that the soil is in good condition and the roots are away from the dry conditions found at the base of a wall. After planting, it's also good to cover the soil with a mulch to prevent competition from weeds and help retain all available moisture around the roots of the plants.
When to plant?
Container-grown climbers can be planted at any time of the year, except when the soil is frozen or waterlogged. Autumn is the ideal time for deciduous climbers because the soil is still warm enough to encourage some root growth before the onset of winter. This helps the climber establish quickly so that it is able to withstand any hot, dry spells the following summer. Container-grown evergreen climbers can also be planted in autumn, but in exposed gardens they're best planted in April (May in colder areas).
Top Tip: protect all vulnerable climbers over winter by covering them with a warm layer, like fleece.
7 steps to success
1. Make sure there is suitable support for the climber - like trellis. If planting against a wall or fence make a planting hole about 45cm away from the base to avoid the dry soil found in these areas.
2. Dig a hole at least twice as wide and slightly deeper than the climbers container. Mix the soil you've removed with well-rotted organic manure such as Farmyard Maure and leave it to one side.
3. Nearly all climbers should be planted at the same depth as in the pot. Check the hole is the right depth by laying a cane or piece of straight timber across the hole. If the climber is standing too high you'll need to remove some of the soil in the bottom of the hole, or if it's too low, then top it up a bit.
4. Water the climber thoroughly and allow to drain. Gently tip the plant on its side and with one hand on top of the compost and around the climber to support it, ease the climber out of its pot.
5. Carefully pull out any roots that are circling around the bottom or sides of the pot, so they grow away from the rootball and into the surrounding soil. Position the climber in the centre of the hole and lean it back towards the bottom of the support at a 45 degree angle. Then fill in the gaps around the sides of the plant with soil mixture, firming it down gently as you go.
6. Once the hole has been filled, gently firm the soil once more - to get rid of any air pockets and make sure the plant is secure. Water the climber again using at least one full watering can. Then cover the soil with a generous layer of mulch, such as chipped bark to help prevent weeds and reduce the amount of water loss from the soil.
7. Untie the climber from the support cane supplied in the pot and space out and tie in all the stems to the new support system - trellis or climber support.
Actinidia deliciosa Jenny is a self-fertile female kiwi fruit plant meaning it will produce edible fruits without the need for a male plant. 'Jenny' is a good fruiting variety with pale yellow flowers and lush foliage which add to the appeal of this fruit. A climber. Heart-shaped leaves, cup-shaped white flowers followed by edible, hairy, brown fruits.
Chinese gooseberry, Kiwi fruit. Vigorous woody stemmed climber. Heart-shaped leaves, bearing cup-shaped white flowers followed by edible, hairy, brown fruits. To obtain fruits both male and female plants must be grown. Height 10m. Flowers from June to July. Deciduous. Hardy. Sheltered Site.
Chocolate Vine. A semi-evergreen climber. Attractive dark green leaves above blue-green beneath, purple tinged in winter. Spicely fragrant racemes of chocolate-purple flowers, followed by fruit. Height 10m. Spread 3-7m. Flowers from March to April. Fruits from August to September. Hardy.
Chocolate Vine. A semi-evergreen climber. Attractive dark green leaves above blue-green beneath, purple tinged in winter. Spicely fragrant racemes of chocolate-purple flowers, followed by fruit. Height 10m. Spread 3-7m. Flowers from March to April. Fruits from August to September. Hardy.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Evergreen shrub with small tubular flowers surrounded by beautiful bracts bourne in large auxiliary clusters. Excellent for use on pergolas or on front of houses. Prefers a sheltered site from frost.
Indian Shot Plant. Perennial with bold dark foliage. Iris-like, bright red or orange flowers. Height 1m. Spread 50cm. Flowers from July to October. Herbaceous. Not hardy. Sheltered Site.
Common Trumpet Creeper. Vigorous climber with dark green leaves and attractive clusters of trumpet-shaped. orange-red flowers. Height 10m. Flowers from August to September. Deciduous. Sunny position on a wall.
Produces a great abundance of pure white semi-double nodding bell-shaped flowers that are creamy-white when they first open.
Semi-herbaceous compact perennial with scrambling stems bearing deep blue-mauve flowers 7.5 - 9cm across, with six narrow sepals becoming pinky-mauve. Flowers from late spring to early autumn.
A vigorous evergreen climber with saucer-shaped, scented white flowers, with cream anthers. Height 3-5m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from March to May. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Sheltered Site. Rich soil in sunny spot. The best evergreen clematis.
A vigorous evergreen climber with saucer-shaped, scented white flowers, with cream anthers. Height 3-5m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from March to May. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Sheltered Site. Rich soil in sunny spot. The best evergreen clematis.
A vigorous evergreen climber with bell shaped, scented white, large flowers, with cream anthers. Height 3-5m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from March to May. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Sheltered Site.
A later, large-flowered climber with green leaves, single deep pink flowers with a purple-red bar, white anthers. Height 1.8m. Spread 1m. Long flowering period.
A vigorous late small flowered climber with abundant open bell shaped, single yellow flowers with red anthers, followed by large fluffy seed heads. Height 7m. Spread 2.5m. Flowers from July to October. Deciduous. Hardy.
A wonderful, large flowered variety with beautiful sky blue blooms with a central ridge of white on the reverse of the flower petal. This is a compact form in the Boulevard group so great for small gardens.
Beautiful, large cream flowers with contrasting mauve tipped stamens, continue to bloom freely over a long season. Prefers partial shade with free-draining soil or compost. Lovely compact habit - ideal for pots and containers or the patio or veranda.
Saucer-like maroon flowers with light purple centres, continue to bloom freely over a very long flowering period.
Large, eye-catching, purple-blue flowers on a compact, medium sized plant giving enjoyment from early spring to late summer. Prefers partial shade with free-draining soil or compost.
Beautiful pink star shaped flowers, continue to bloom freely over a long season. Prefers partial shade with free-draining soil or compost. Lovely compact habit - ideal for pots and containers on the patio or veranda.
Large, silvery-white star-shaped flowers, 10 to 15cm wide, with distinctive tapering petal tips, purple edges and a faint, pale-green central stripe continue to bloom freely over a long season. Prefers partial shade with free-draining soil or compost. Lovely compact habit - ideal for pots and containers on the patio or veranda.
Beautiful, large, late flowering, deep violet flowers with purple central bars and reddish anthers and will continue to bloom freely over a long season. Prefers full or partial shade with free-draining soil or compost.
A pretty climber with divided leaves and soft pink flowers in early summer and intermittently until autumn. Height 2.5m. Spread 1m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
Large creamy bell-shaped winter flowers and deep green leaves retained throughout the year. This winter-flowering clematis is perfect for training over a pergola, doorway or arch, in a sunny, sheltered site.
A late small flowered climber with single deep purple saucer shaped flowers and contrasting white anthers. Height 3-5m. Spread 1.5m. Flowers from July to September. Deciduous. Prune hard in March. Very free flowering and lovely velvety colour.
A wonderful new variety which has a very long flowering period of May to September, and produces strong satin red flowers which fade to a more purple colour. Height 6ft.
Clematis 'Arabella' bears its small, mauve-purple blooms with with creamy-yellow anthers from early summer to early autumn. This is one of the longest non-stop flowering Clematis, giving colour from May to October. Part of the integrifolia group, this scrambling variety is semi-herbaceous with non clinging stems which are ideal for romping among mature shrubs, or cascading over banks and walls. This versatile perennial has a relatively compact habit making it useful for creating vigorous, weed suppressing ground cover, or spilling from large patio pots. Height: 2m (6'). Spread: 1m (3').
Large cream flowers with a soft and rich pink stripe to each of the petals that have darker coloured stripes underneath, these being further set off with a burst of red from the centre of the blooms from June to September.
Clematis 'Justa' captivates with its bright, clear flower colour. It is a pure lavender blue, which looks extraordinarily beautiful together with the long, bright greenish yellow stamens.
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