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 fragrant climbing rose with shiny mid-green leaves. Clusters of double pale, pearl pink flowers produced from summer to autumn. Height 3m. Spread 2.5m. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A cluster-flowered climbing rose with mid-green leaves. Slightly fragrant, double, bright red flowers produced in summer. Height 3m. Spread 3m. Flowers from June to August. Deciduous. Hardy.
A fragrant, climbing rose with glossy, dark green leaves abundant in honey-champagne flowers that blush to pearl in late season. Height 14ft. Spread 7ft.
Huge, heavy blooms of pink, fading to white. It comes in three sizes: a shrub rose from 4 to 6 feet; a pillar rose from 6 to 8 feet, and a climber to 12 feet. Disease resistant and hardy.
A shorter climber or pillar rose with beautiful rich pink blooms borne in clusters on stiff upright stems. The colour is wonderfully vibrant in the peak of the summer. Getting rather old now but still a cracking rose in the right position. Can be susceptible to black-spot. Can be grown in a container.
Climbing rose with numerous clear pink, globular flowers produced from summer to autumn. Flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
A slightly fragrant, climbing rose with glossy, dark green leaves. Orange/red flowers from June to September. Deciduous. Hardy.
Slightly fragrant climbing rose with glossy, dark green leaves. Pretty white double flowers with golden anthers from summer to autumn. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Deciduous. Hardy.
A fragrant large-flowered climbing rose with dark green leaves. Pretty double white flowers from summer to autumn. Height 2.2m. Spread 1.5m. Flowers from June to September.
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.
Vivid pink flowers with dense black centres that contrast against the rest of the flower. Reaching a height of 2m and spread of 1m, low maintenance.
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.
Glossy yellow leaves edged dark green and bright red new growth, creamy-white flowers ageing to yellow.
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.
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