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.
An early flowering, deciduous climber, with pretty divided leaves. Bears a profusion of single white flowers. Height 5-14m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous. Hardy.
An early flowering, deciduous climber, with pretty divided leaves. Bears a profusion of single pink, fragrant flowers. Height 5-14m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous.
An early flowering, deciduous climber, with divided, green leaves. Bears a profusion of single. scented. pure white flowers. Good for a north wall. Height 5-14m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from May to June. Great for scrambling through trees.
An early flowering deciduous climber. Profusion of double creamy pink flowers. Glossy green leaves last until November. Very vigorous grower. Height 5-14m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from May to June. Sun or part shade. Suitable for North facing position. Pruning immediately after flowering if restriction needed.
An early flowering, deciduous climber, with divided, green leaves. Bears a profusion of single, mid-pink, flowers. Height 5-14m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous.
One of the most floriferous and rapid growing clematis varieties. Rubens is a pinkish form of the usual white Clematis montana. All forms are vigorous rambling climbers, with twining stems that produce a mass of scented flowers in May and June. May also produce a second smaller flush of blooms in late summer.
An early flowering, deciduous climber, with purple flushed foliage. Bears a profusion of single, rose-pink, scented flowers. Height 5-14m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous. Hardy.
A later flowering montana with divided, green leaves. Bears a profusion of single, creamy white, scented flowers. Height 5-14m. Spread 2-3m. Flowers June - July. Deciduous.
An early, large-flowered climber with green leaves, single mauve flowers with a red bar with red anthers. May also flower again in late summer. Good plant for a north wall. Height 2-3m. Spread 1m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous. Hardy.
An early, large-flowered climber with green leaves, single mauve-red flowers with a red edge with red anthers. May also flower again in late summer. Height 2-3m. Spread 1m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous. Hardy.
Stunning silvery-pink, star-shaped flowers with central boss of purple filaments and yellow anthers. Sepals pointed with light purple margins. May to October. Ht.1.4m.(5ft.). Hard prune. Any aspect. Compact and good for containers. Semi-double flowers randomly produced.
A late large flowered climber with single creamy white flowers with purple anthers. Height 3m. Spread 1m. Flowers from May to June.
From mid-summer to early autumn, it's covered with rich red flowers with pale pink undersides. Its compact nature makes it an excellent choice for container growing, and well as at the front of the border. A viticella clematis, Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon' shows good resistance to clematis wilt. For best results grow in moist but well-drained soil. As with all the late-flowering clematis, pruning is easy: simply cut stems back to the lowest pair of buds in February or March.
A climbing or trailing evergreen shrub, with finely divided deep green leaves. Panicles of cup-shaped, pure white flowers, with white anthers. Height 300cm. Spread 50cm. Flowers early spring. Evergreen. Frost hardy in sheltered site.
A climbing or trailing evergreen shrub, with finely divided deep green leaves. Panicles of cup-shaped, pure white flowers, with white anthers. Height 300cm. Spread 50cm. Flowers early spring. Evergreen. Frost hardy in sheltered site.
A climbing or trailing evergreen shrub, with finely divided deep green leaves. Panicles of cup-shaped, pure white flowers, with white anthers. Height 150cm. Spread 50cm. Flowers early spring. Evergreen. Frost hardy in sheltered sunny site.
Russian Vine. Mile a Minute. A very vigorous, twining climber with heart-shaped green leaves. Clusters of white, pink-tinged, flowers in autumn, followed by small fruit. A useful plant for covering unsightly structures. Height 12m. Flowers from August to September. Hardy.
Russian Vine. Mile a Minute. A very vigorous, twining climber with heart-shaped green leaves. Clusters of white, pink-tinged, flowers in autumn, followed by small fruit. A useful plant for covering unsightly structures. Height 12m. Flowers from August to September. Hardy.
Canary Island Ivy. A vigorous climber with light silvery green leaves, variegated creamy white. Height 4m. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Harmful if eaten/may cause skin allergy.
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A vigorous climber with small light to dark grey-green leaves, becoming more yellow with age. Can be grown in shady locations, self clinging. Evergreen. Hardy.
A vigorous self clinging climber with small, green leaves, with broad yellow central splash. Evergreen. Hardy. Harmful if eaten/may cause skin allergy.
Hop. A herbaceous perennial climber with bright yellow, deeply lobed leaves. Green then straw-coloured flower spikes in summer. Height 6m. Flowers from July to August. Herbaceous. Hardy.
Hop. A herbaceous perennial climber with light green, deeply lobed leaves. Green then straw-coloured flower spikes in summer. Height 6m. Flowers from July to August. Herbaceous. Hardy
Climbing hydrangea. Dark green heart-shaped foliage irregularly edged in warm gold. Lush white, flattened lace-cap flower heads spanning 6 inches across. Flowers in late spring with the outer florets opening first. Foliage turns yellow in the autumn. Plant on a shady north or east facing wall. Deciduous.
Climbing Hydrangea. Vigorous, woody, deciduous climber, clinging by aerial roots. Ovate, dark green, very shiny, rounded leaves fading to yellow in the autumn. In summer bears domed corymbs of red flowers fading to cream. Height up to 5m. Great for a shady wall.
Dark green heart-shaped foliage irregularly edged in warm gold. Lush. white. flattened lace-cap flower heads spanning 6 inches across arise in late spring with the outer florets opening first. Miranda is a deciduous vine. but its attractive reddish cinnamon-brown bark sheds for dramatic winter interest.
Climbing Hydrangea. Vigorous, woody, deciduous climber, clinging by aerial roots. Ovate, dark green rounded leaves fading to yellow in the autumn. In summer bears domed corymbs of white flowers. Height up to 15m. Great for a shady or sunny wall.
A woody, evergreen climber. clinging by aerial roots with mid green leaves and greenish white domed flowerheads surrounded by white flowers in summer. Height 10m. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Shelter from cold drying winds.
Jasmine. A twining climber with dark green leaves and small clusters of fragrant, pinkish red flowers from early to mid-summer. Height 5m. Flowers from June to July. Frost hardy. Sheltered Site.
Winter Jasmine. A slender shrub with arching stems and clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers produced before the leaves in winter and early spring. Height 3m. Spread 3m. Flowers from May to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
Honeysuckle. A bushy shrub with dull green leaves, blue-green beneath and very fragrant creamy white flowers in winter and early spring, followed by dull red berries. Height 2m. Spread 3m. Semi-evergreen. Hardy.
Lonicera henryi's flowers may be smaller than most honeysuckle vines, but their charming blossoms fill the vine with abundance. Hummingbirds frequently visit and later when the blue berries ripen, other birds feast on the fruit.
Honeysuckle. Lonicera Copper Beauty has deep copper yellow flowers against rich bronze coloured new stems and leaves in spring. The flowers are unscented and the dark green leaves are a deep bronze colour when young and stay on the plant all year.
Honeysuckle. A bushy evergreen shrub with bright yellow leaves, creamy white flowers in spring. Height 1.5m. Spread 1.5m. Flowers from April to May. Evergreen. Hardy.
Honeysuckle. A bushy evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves, creamy white flowers in spring, followed by glossy, purple-blue berries. Height 3.5m. Spread 3m. Flowers from April to May. Fruits from June. Evergreen. Great hedging.
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