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.
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 o f cream flowers, followed by fruit. Height 10m. Spread 3-7m. Flowers from March to April. Fruits from August to September. Semi-evergreen. 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
A wonderful, prolific flowering variety with a slightly more rounded petal form and pastel pink blooms with a very faint darker mid-rib. Flowers for a long period through summer. Part of the boulevard series producing a compact clematis to around 1.2m x 60cm ideal for small gardens, obelisks and pots.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Small, simple, tulip-shaped flowers in a bright, lively candy-pink. They appear in mid-summer, lasting until the autumn, have prominent creamy centres and are nestled amongst mid-green leaves.
Produces masses of larger bell-shaped flowers in pure white with purplish highlight. The flowers flare out toward the pointed tips to reveal the rich plum-purple base to the flowers.
A beautiful Viticella Group clematis which features exciting bell-shaped flowers in mauve pink - darker on the outside and paler within, the pale colouring showing where the bell splits and the edges roll back.
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.
Bullocks Heart Ivy. A vigorous climber with light green leaves, mottled grey-green and margined creamy white. Can also be used as ground cover. Height 5m. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Shelter from cold winds. Harmful if eaten/may cause skin allergy.
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