Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Climber For Conifer

harmonyharmony Posts: 403
in Plants
Hi, i've got a conifer around 8/10ft high and compact (not sure of type) which has slowly been turning brown and i'm thinking about planting a climber, do you think its a good idea ?. The area gets sun until around 3pm and is quite sheltered . I would like something long or repeat flowering but not too vigorous. Oh and easy growing i've not had much luck with clematis ( probably my fault though lol). Thanks

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited August 2018
    In a word, harmony - no!
    Take the conifer out, improve the ground with loads of manure and compost, and then plant the climber of your choice. Conifers take so much from the ground in terms of water and nutrition that it makes it well nigh impossible to grow anything nearby. 
    I can grow groundcover and other things at the foot of my conifer, but I have regular, heavy rainfall, so it makes it a lot easier. Even so, a climber would need to be planted well away to be clear of roots etc.
    Don't give up on clematisinyour garden - it's loads of water that they need more than anything, as long as they have decent soil to grow in  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • harmonyharmony Posts: 403
    Thanks Fairygirl
    I'm just very nervous of the gap i'm going to be left with 😕. Are they hard to dig up? my back and knees aren't what they used to be lol.






  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Aye - none of us are getting any younger, harmony ;)
    I know it can be worrying to have a gap, when you're used to having something there, but often it's nice to see it as an opportunity. You have a nice little 'corner' there full of potential  :)
    If you take off all the branches and dead stuff, but leave a good bit of the main trunk [3 or 4 feet] then dig round the base to give you half a chance at the root system, you can usually rock them to get them out. Many of them are quite shallow rooted.
    If you do decide to get it out, just do it a bit at a time, take it slowly, and probably wait till there's been enough rain to get the ground more workable. That will help when digging. I've taken mature laurels out like that, and it wasn't too bad. They were getting  moved so they had to stay alive. Easier with a dead shrub!
    Alternatively, get a 'man in'...  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.