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.
Small and compact evergreen shrub with bright golden-green leaves through the year and tiny, white flowers in Spring.
Mound-forming, evergreen shrub with arching stems bearing tiny, broadly ovate, grey-green leaves with creamy-white margins and insignificant white flowers in spring followed by sparsely produced, purple-black fruit.
Early Dutch Honeysuckle. A twining climber with mid-green leaves and very fragrant white flowers that turn yellow. and are richly streaked red outside. Height 7m. Flowers from May to June. Fruits from July Deciduous. Hardy.
Common Honeysuckle. A twining climber with mid-green leaves and very fragrant white to yellow flowers, often red-flushed. Height 7m. Flowers from July to August. Fruits from August. Deciduous. Hardy.
Late Dutch Honeysuckle. A twining climber with mid-green leaves and very fragrant creamy white flowers streaked dark purple-red. Height 7m. Flowers from May to June. Fruits from July Deciduous. Hardy.
Scarlet Trumpet Honeysuckle. A twining climber with blue-green leaves. Clusters of rich bright scarlet trumpet-shaped flowers in summer. Height 4m. Flowers from June to August. Fruits from July Deciduous. Hardy.
Honeysuckle. A twining climber with dark green leaves, blue-green beneath. Bright clusters of tubular pink, orange and yellow flowers in summer. Highly fragrant. Height 5m. Flowers from June to August. Fruits from July. Deciduous. Hardy.
The Classic group has a habit which is neat, upright, compact with good basal branching and glossy foliage. They are natural climbers and make excellent conservatory plants, in a summer patio pot or as a houseplant.
Bright scarlet self-clinging Virginia creeper.
Boston Ivy, Virginia Creeper. A vigorous climber with bright green leaves, turning brilliant red to purple in autumn. Height 20m. Deciduous. Hardy.
Blue Passion flower. A vigorous climber with rich green leaves and bowl-shaped white flowers with blue tips in summer followed by orange-yellow fruit. Height 10m. Flowers from June to August. Fruits from August. Evergreen. Frost hardy.
Passion flower. A vigorous climber with rich green leaves and bowl-shaped white flowers with green anthers. Height 4m. Flowers from August to November. Evergreen. Not hardy.
Passion flower. A vigorous climber with rich green leaves and bowl-shaped. purple to purple-blue flowers with green anthers. Height 4m. Flowers from August to November. Evergreen. Sheltered, sunny site.
'Albéric Barbier' is a strong-growing rambling rose to 5m, with glossy, bright green foliage and clusters of slightly scented, fully double, creamy-white flowers flushed yellow in bud.
A fragrant cluster-flowered climbing rose with glossy pale green leaves. Pretty double pure buttercup yellow flowers produced from summer to autumn. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A delicately scented, climbing rose with pale green leaves. Pretty double, pink flowers produced in late spring. Height 12m. Spread 6m. Flowers from May to June. Semi-evergreen. Frost hardy. Sheltered site.
Yellow Banksian Rose. A delicately scented, climbing rose with pale green leaves. Pretty double, pink flowers produced in late spring. Height 6m. Spread 6m. Flowers from May to June. Semi-evergreen. Frost hardy. Sheltered site.
Miniature climbing, deciduous shrub with thorny stems bearing pinnate leaves with ovate, glossy, dark green leaflets and fragrant, semi-double, salmon to orange flowers from late spring into autumn.
Coppery-orange, high centred fragrant flowers on dark stems with deep green foliage. Needs a warm, sheltered wall to flourish, when it can be quite beautiful.
A climber with well formed pale blue flowers. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A fragrant, climbing rose with mid-green leaves. Pretty, double, apricot to apricot-pink flowers from summer to autumn. Height 2.5m. Spread 2.2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
Trusses of full warm apricot yellow scented flowers, good dark foliage, sturdy growth. 2m x 2m. Repeat bloomer. Hybrid musk.
A familiar, scrambling beauty that adorns hedgerows with its pale pink flowers. Dog rose clasps on to other shrubs with curved spines to grow.
An slightly fragrant, climbing rose with glossy, dark green leaves. Pretty, double flowers from summer to autumn. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A climbing rose with dark green leaves. Scented, fully double, salmon-pink flowers suffused apricot produced from summer to autumn. Height 3m. Spread 2.5m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
Medium sized coral-pink flowers deepening towards the centre produced in clusters. The forerunner of the modern perpetual-flowering climbers and still one of the best and most vigorous of this class. Healthy glossy foliage. Fresh. fruity fragrance. 10-15 ft
A fragrant climbing rose with a good strong yellow flower in summer to autumn. Foliage dark green. Height 3m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A fragrant, climbing rose with glossy, dark green leaves. Pretty double, bright crimson flowers from summer to autumn. Can be pruned as a shrub. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A large-flowered climbing rose with dark green leaves. Very fragrant, double, crimson flowers from summer to autumn. Height 4m. Spread 2.5m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A climbing or rambling rose with pale green leaves, copper tinted when young. Pretty large clusters of fragrant, creamy white flowers produced in late summer. Height 10m. Spread 6m. Flowers from August Deciduous. Frost hardy.
A very hardy, vigorous, large-flowered climbing rose which produces abundant clusters of double red flowers.
An intensely fragrant, climbing rose with glossy, dark green leaves. Pretty, double, dusky red flowers from summer to autumn. Height 8ft. Suitable for growing in a large tub or on a patio.
A fragrant, climbing rose with glossy dark green leaves. Pretty double clear yellow flowers from summer to autumn. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm
Any questions? Email us or give us a call on 01904 400092.
1.400x267_crop_FFFFFF_autoautoautoauto.jpg)
 Icon1.400x267_crop_FFFFFF_autoautoautoauto.jpg)
