Climbing plants are a great garden feature. They add depth and can be used to cover old fencing or alternatively be used to help create different areas within your garden. Climbing plants provide privacy which can be highly beneficial especially in built up areas.
Successful climbing plants
The best way to grow climbing plants is to use garden trellis. This can either be attached to a wall or fence panel and provides your plants with a solid secure structure to climb around. Buying planters with trellis is another great way of adding height to your garden. Planters with trellis give you far more freedom to choose where you want to grow your climbing plants as the trellis does not have to be secured to an existing structure.
* To begin with use string to train plants to grow up and around trellis, this will provide additional security for plants which are not yet strong enough to grow upwards unaided.
* If you plan to grow vegetables with trellis, the trellis will give you easier access to the fruits of your labour as well as reducing the amount of rotten fruit or vegetables as the plant has less contact with the soil. More air can circulate around your vegetable when grown in this manner which will result in healthier fruits and better veggies!
Trellis essentials
* Find a sheltered spot that is out of the wind.
* You will need to spend time initially training your plats to climb
* If you are planning to grow heavy fruit and vegetables on trellis you will need to check that they are being fully supported on a regular basis.
* Water regularly. Climbing plants require more water due to this kind of growing technique enabling faster water absorption.
Top climbing plant for 2010
Lophospermum - Begin by planting seeds in 7.5-10cm pots under cover in pots and plant out in late May. I would advise using a planter with trellis which will allows the new shoots to twine around the structure and grow vertically. Throughout summer you will be rewarded with trumpet shaped flowers.
