My Montana would happily take over my whole garden and the local neighbourhood if it could. I think it may dominate the rose without persistent pruning.
I still think there isn't enough room for both those plants to give of their best, and you'll need to have something hefty for the montana to attach onto, or you'll be constantly pruning it, and losing it's effect. I've grown a climbing rose and a montana together in a previous garden, beside my back door, but it had a border about a metre depth running at right angles to the house, which was clay, and naturally nutritious, with extra compost added to both on planting. Plenty of rain here, even at house walls, and the plants put in at a decent distance from the wall, so they didn't need any extra watering. A neighbour across the road has a beautiful, mature montana grandiflora. It covers her garage and fence in spring with flowers. I can't even see all of it from my front window - only that section.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the follow-up, Fairygirl. For what it’s worth, I have dug over the bed to at least a metre depth and it connects (I think) with the much larger front garden bed. You can see from this photograph. Does that change your opinion?
Hi Thomas - if the underground situation is good, that's great, but the room, or lack of it, 'above' still makes it tricky. You don't have the space to train and tie in both plants. The montana will completely obliterate your front door and windows very quickly! I think I'd keep the rose on it's own. They're easier to keep fitted into a more limited space, without sacrificing flowers etc.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks. There’s some space higher up that I’m aiming for. What do you think? The plan is to grow the clematis up the trellis and then galvanised steel wire strung across vine eyes; the rose up the bay window along vine eyes; and then let the Montana ramble into the rose a little at the top of the bay window, but try to keep that bit under control.
I think you are wasting your money trying to grow two climbing plants in that narrow space beside your front door. I would concentrate on just one. I have recently planted a Clematis Montana Grandiflora next to our front door - climbing up the house wall and on a newly attached wooden trellis which is 2 foot plus wide and approx 8 foot tall. I am training it tightly, to wind backwards and forwards on each rung of the trellis and will need to use a ladder to reach the higher parts of the trellis when necessary. The clematis is thick with growth and by next year, all being well it will have reached the top of the trellis (which just about touches the gutter) and then I will be cutting any new growth so that the Clematis doesn't interfere with the gutter. Your Clematis has a long way to go to reach the gutter Thomas Gardener.
If I wanted a clematis for that size of space, and to flower in spring like a montana, I'd buy an alpina. They'd prefer the drier ground up against the wall, they flower their wee socks off, need no pruning other than a bit of tidying if stems get a bit wayward, and you usually get another flowering spell later in the year. What's not to like? Either that, or one of the Group 2's which also need very little tidying once trained into the area available, , and will be a better size. A Montana's far too big for the space there IMHO, and you won't get the best out of it.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks both. My thinking was that it is a north-easterly-facing wall, which is somewhat shaded by two large nearby lime trees. What Alpina might be more appropriate? I’d like it to be white if possible.
I agree with FG - not a good spot for a clematis montana. I would also stick to just trying to grow a good rose well. However, if you must have a clematis, have a look at this selection - http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemlist.cfm
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Yes - take a look at some of the specialist clem growers' sites - Taylor's Clematis, Thorncroft, and Hawthorne's. You can put in your aspect, flowering time and colour etc, and it will bring up all the suitable plants. Richard Hodson often posts here - he runs Hawthorne's.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I've grown a climbing rose and a montana together in a previous garden, beside my back door, but it had a border about a metre depth running at right angles to the house, which was clay, and naturally nutritious, with extra compost added to both on planting. Plenty of rain here, even at house walls, and the plants put in at a decent distance from the wall, so they didn't need any extra watering.
A neighbour across the road has a beautiful, mature montana grandiflora. It covers her garage and fence in spring with flowers. I can't even see all of it from my front window - only that section.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think I'd keep the rose on it's own. They're easier to keep fitted into a more limited space, without sacrificing flowers etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What's not to like?
Either that, or one of the Group 2's which also need very little tidying once trained into the area available, , and will be a better size.
A Montana's far too big for the space there IMHO, and you won't get the best out of it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Richard Hodson often posts here - he runs Hawthorne's.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...