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.
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. Only just hardy so sheltered sunny spot.
An evergreen climber with leathery dark green leaves and creamy white starry flowers with conspicuous stamens. Height 6m. Flowers from August to November. Evergreen. Frost hardy. At last a flowering evergreen climber for sun or shade.
'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 vigorous rambler rose with glossy mid-green leaves and sweetly scented double light salmon-pink flowers Height 5m. Spread 4m. Flowers from June to August. Deciduous. Hardy.
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, yellow flowers produced in late spring. Height 6m. 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.
A climber with well formed pale blue flowers. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A climber with well formed silvery-lilac flowers strongly scented of lemons, produced freely. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy. Planting instructions Back-fill with soil mixed with peat and a suitable fertiliser.
Huge sprays of semi-double creamy white blooms. Scented. Very vigorous. Summer flowering. Innumerable small orange hips follow in autumn. Good for climbing into trees and hedges. Size: 9m x 6m.
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.
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 beautiful climbing rose with dense, glossy green leaves. The flowers are semi double, long-lasting and a deep, rich velvety red in colour. It is a vigorous upright grower, and looks stunning climbing up pillars or arches
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.
A fragrant, climbing rose with leathery, dark green leaves. Pretty double, blackish red flowers, produced from summer to autumn. Height 4.5m. Spread 2.2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A slightly fragrant, climbing rose with glossy, dark green leaves. Pretty, double cream flowers with pinkish red margins from summer to autumn. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A fragrant, climbing rose with leathery, green leaves. Clusters of pretty semi-double, white flowers, produced from summer to autumn. Height 5m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A 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.
Strongly fragrant, large-flowered climbing rose with green leaves. Double, salmon-pink flowers produced from summer to autumn. Height 2m shorter and easy to grow, Repeat flowering. Only moderate disease resistance so spray regularly.
Rose 'Madame Alfred Carriere' is an incredible grower, this climbing rose has lovely clusters of white, sometimes flushed soft-pink, double flowers, which go on flowering for months at a stretch.
Climbing Hybrid Tea. A rose of exceptional vigour. Huge flowers of pale pink with deeper pink reverse and veined. Lovely foliage. Good hips later. Deciduous. Hardy.
A climbing rose with yellow, pink and red flowers. Flowers freely, but only in the summer. Vigorous growth. Light fragrance. Deciduous. Hardy.
Vigorous, reliable blooms all summer. Best to prune finished flowers to produce more. Flowers are bright red with many petals. Very showy. Prune in early spring to green stems. Always feed with a blooming fertilizer after pruning.
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