If you can get hold of a copy of Geoff Hamilton's Cottage Gardens book - Amazon, charity shop, library - it has plans for making a sturdy wooden obelisk that can be modified to be taller/shorter/wider and will save you a lot of money.
Thanks for the link for the obelisk. Sadly it’s out of stock, so I may have to make my own too! If using bamboo do you use string and wind up from bottom to top to give extra support?
Does anyone have any thoughts on growing a clematis up a fence?
I am about to plant a white montanna up a fence and I don’t have a trellis or any support for it.
There are wires on the fence for a Rose which is not established enough for the clematis to grow though it yet. I just wonder what to do. Is it worth fanning some bamboo canes up the fence, behind the wires or would you do something else? The wires are about 20-30cm apart....
@honeybean Just show the clematis the wires. It'll manage from there.
Bamboo cane obelisks are only good for one year in my experience. I use them when growing new clematis on in pots so they have a stronger root system fro planting out and they rot/break/tip too easily in wet and windy weather and they're not grippy either so the clematis need tieing on. We have an endless supply of 4 to 6 metre high canes from a clump of provnçal cane we're trying to kill so we can replace easily but otherwise it would be an expensive solution.
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)."
@honeybean Just show the clematis the wires. It'll manage from there.
Bamboo cane obelisks are only good for one year in my experience. I use them when growing new clematis on in pots so they have a stronger root system fro planting out and they rot/break/tip too easily in wet and windy weather and they're not grippy either so the clematis need tieing on. We have an endless supply of 4 to 6 metre high canes from a clump of provnçal cane we're trying to kill so we can replace easily but otherwise it would be an expensive solution.
Ah well that answers my question then! I saw some okish metal obelisk in my price range. I shall invest in a couple which will hopefully last longer than willow and bamboo. If you use metal do you still tie in?
@honeybean - clematis in the diversifolia and texensis groups don't naturally cling so need tying in but all clematis do better with a guiding hand to train their stems out along their support structure and encourage their tendrils to grip or you'll end up with bunched mass of vertical stems it's nigh on impossible to untangle.
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)."
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I love Oblelixx’s idea of making your own. I have a few climbing supports made from bamboo poles.
The one in my original photo isn’t too expensive though and only take a bit of putting together
https://www.primrose.co.uk/19m-wooden-obelisk-sage-smart-garden-p-91331.html
I also have some cheapo wooden trellis
Thanks for the link for the obelisk. Sadly it’s out of stock, so I may have to make my own too! If using bamboo do you use string and wind up from bottom to top to give extra support?
thanks
thanks 🌹
Bamboo cane obelisks are only good for one year in my experience. I use them when growing new clematis on in pots so they have a stronger root system fro planting out and they rot/break/tip too easily in wet and windy weather and they're not grippy either so the clematis need tieing on. We have an endless supply of 4 to 6 metre high canes from a clump of provnçal cane we're trying to kill so we can replace easily but otherwise it would be an expensive solution.
thanks so much
Clematis Arabella just starting to flower. Think Ive caught the clematis bug, there is so many lovely
Went to my local garden center to get some potting grit. Saw this beauty that wanted to come home with me lol, well i couldn't say no.