Vines and other climbing plants are very versatile
plants to have in any garden. Their great value is in that they give
plenty of height without the sheer volume and bulk of a tree. They can
be used to cover unsightly or boring walls and fences or when allowed to
grow up some kind of support of their own, can very quickly give a large
focal point within the garden.
There are scramblers, self-clingers and twiners.
Scramblers - such as climbing roses, have
backwards pointing spines and a strong upwards growth habit so they
forge on ever upwards while their spines stop them from sliding
backwards. They may need tying in to start with and guiding in the right
direction, they will need a system of wires, or a trellis etc. to
support them.
Self-clingers - such as ivy, has adhesive
"pads" on the stems or tendrils that cling to flat surfaces such as
brick walls and wooden fences. These are best not grown against anything
wooden as they have a tendency to keep the wood wetter longer than it
otherwise would be after rain, so reducing the life of the fence and
speeding its decay. Contrary to popular belief, they don't pull walls
down unless they are already in very poor state of repair for other
reasons - when they'd probably fall down anyway.
Twiners - such as Clematis, have stems that
wind around any upright support, or produce tendrils that wind around
supports, so supporting the stem, these need to be given some kind of
support.
Most climbers, especially twiners and scramblers are
best shown off it 3 dimensions rather than 2. In other words, they are
better up and over an arbor of some description than they are against a
flat brick wall. An arbor covered with a scented rose, honeysuckle or
Wisteria for example is a wonderful addition to the garden as you get
right in amongst the scent of the flowers.
I like climbers
