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.
A bourbon shrub rose with deep green leaves. Pretty, loosely double, deep pink flowers produced from summer to autumn. Good as a climber. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A self clinging deciduous climber to 3m high with green leaves. Soft pink flower heads 25cm across are borne in July, like a lace-cap Hydrangea. Prefers a fertile soil in sun or part shade, but flowers best in sun. Suitable for north walls. Deciduous. Hardy. Sunny position.
Potato Vine. A scrambling climber with dark semi evergreen green leaves. White flowers from summer to autumn, followed by black fruits. Height 6m. Flowers from June to September. Fruits from September. Prefers sunny south wall.
Potato Vine. A scrambling climber with dark semi evergreen green leaves. White flowers from summer to autumn, followed by black fruits. Height 6m. Flowers from June to September. Fruits from September. Prefers sunny south wall.
Potato Vine. A scrambling climber with dark semi evergreen green leaves. White flowers from summer to autumn, followed by black fruits. Height 6m. Flowers from June to September. Fruits from September. Prefers sunny south wall.
Orange flowers with dark eyes. Climbing to over 1.2m is ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes in sun or partial shade.
Climber suitable for patio or garden settings. Well known for its branching and bright colours. Orange flowers with black centre.
Creamy white flowers with dark eyes. Climbing to over 1.2m is ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes in sun or partial shade.
Yellow flowers with dark eyes. Climbing to over 1.2m is ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes in sun or partial shade.
A twining climber with glossy dark green leaves, margined and splashed with cream, often turning crimson in winter. Pure white flowers from mid to late summer. Pillar. Evergreen.
A twining climber with glossy, dark green leaves, turning bronze-red in winter. Fragrant scented soft pink flowered star Jasmin flowering from mid to late summer. Height 9m. Flowers from July to August. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Shelter from cold drying winds.
A woody evergreen, twining climber. Sweet scented, creamy-white flowers maturing to soft yellow in summer. Best in full sun or partial shade, in a sheltered spot.
Mid-blue scented flowers between April and June depending on the season.
Japanese Wisteria. A twining climber with lime-green leaves and pendent clusters of fragrant, white with a mauve keel, pea-like flowers in early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from June to July. Deciduous. Hardy. Harmful if eaten.
Silky leaves and stumpy racemes of pink and white flowers with a conspicuous yellow spot. The individual flowers are about twice the size of other wisterias. They open late in late spring or early summer and have a lovely scent. They are followed by long bean-like seed pods which are poisonous.
A twining climber with pendent clusters of fragrant, double deep violet flowers in late spring and early summer. Height 9m. Deciduous.
The first floribunda with double lavender blue and white flowers. Generous flowering from an early age, fragrant and melliferous. Named in honour of singer Cecilia Bartoli. Deciduous. Hardy. Harmful if eaten.
Japanese Wisteria. A twinning climber with lime-green leaves and pendent clusters of fragrant, white pea-like flowers in early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from June to July. Deciduous. Hardy.
Japanese Wisteria. A twinning climber with lime-green leaves and pendent clusters of fragrant, white pea-like flowers in early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from June to July. Deciduous. Hardy.
Japanese Wisteria. A twinning climber with pendent clusters of fragrant, blue pea-like flowers with a mauve tip in late spring and early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous. Hardy.
Dark blue/ violet flowers in long racemes, 30-50cm long. Narrower leaves than normal. A new selection for its big flowers and great colour.
Large cascading clusters of pale blue pea-like flowers. Fragrant flowers in June and July. Mid-green, pinnate leaf, each with 13-19 leaflets. Poisonous, bean-like seed pods in September and October. Vigorous twining vine.
Long, pure white flowers in late May. Lovely, fragrant flowers and almost overwhelming vigour. Plants thrive in full sun (or partial shade in the South) and average soil.
Japanese Wisteria. A twinning climber with pendent clusters of fragrant, lilac-blue pea-like flowers in early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from June to July. Deciduous. Hardy.
Chinese Wisteria. A twining climber with pendent clusters of fragrant. lilac-blue pea-like flowers in late spring and early summer. Height 9m. Sunny position.
Chinese Wisteria. A twining climber with pendent clusters of fragrant, white pea-like flowers in late spring and early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous. Hardy. Harmful if eaten.
Chinese Wisteria. A twining climber with many pendent clusters of fragrant, lilac-blue to pale violet-blue pea-like flowers in late spring and early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from May to June. Deciduous. Hardy. Harmful if eaten.
A fantastic benefit of Wisteria sinensis 'Prematura' is that it will reliably produce flowers from a young age, starting in the first or second year. A naturally occurring hybrid, this Chinese Purple Wisteria has good sized racemes that are covered with an abundance of mauve/purple, pea-like, scented flowers in summer.
Chinese Wisteria. A twinning climber with pendent clusters of fragrant, white pea-like flowers in late spring and early summer. Height 9m. Flowers from June to July. Deciduous. Hardy.
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