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

Picket fencing as support for climbers

charleyjwscotford37p5lpkqcharleyjwscotford37p5lpkq Posts: 9
in Garden design
I'm planning a veg patch, but fencing it off and perhaps having a small length of flowerbed on the outside. I thought about having climbers (sweet pea, morning glory etc) to cover the fencing during the summer, but I wasn't sure if picket fencing was particularly suitable. I did think about using trellis as fencing but I'd prefer the sturdy nature of picket - do you think they'd climb well? 
«1

Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Climbers climb but I picture picket fencing as short. You could spend a lot if time getting your climbers to grow sideways instead of up but it's surely doable, worth a try certainly 
  • charleyjwscotford37p5lpkqcharleyjwscotford37p5lpkq Posts: 9
    Do you think pinching out the tops often might side/lateral growth? Of course I could always train with a few careful cable ties too
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    I'm sorry I don't know, dont ever grow annual climbers and find sweet peas more trouble than they're worth. It might work or you might end up with a tangled mess of flowers with twisted stems and tendrils and don't you have to keep picking the flowers before they set seed, Yep  I was right more trouble than...!
  • charleyjwscotford37p5lpkqcharleyjwscotford37p5lpkq Posts: 9
    Oh I find the dead heading quite therapeutic! Bottle of beer and clippers and I'm away for a while in the warm evenings 🤣
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    You could use vine eyes and fix some horizontal galvanized wires to the picket fence which will be much easier for climbers to cling to.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • charleyjwscotford37p5lpkqcharleyjwscotford37p5lpkq Posts: 9
    Thanks Bob! That's a good idea! 😁
  • HalleSHalleS Posts: 105
    I built something similar to what I imagine you’re talking about with trellis panels. It is pretty sturdy but occasionally needs a few repairs, although I have an 8 year old constantly smashing it with a football. Mine is quite short, about 1.5ft and couldn’t keep up with the sweet peas! I imagine a taller fence would be better for climbers and I don’t think sweet peas would have trouble growing on a picket fence.




  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Could you make a sort of frame (3" square posts with a top rail) and grow ornamental gourds, so they romp along the top and hang down underneath?
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • charleyjwscotford37p5lpkqcharleyjwscotford37p5lpkq Posts: 9
    That's lovely! Were the panels fairly expensive? I'm finding it hard to source trellis that isn't stupid money 
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    You could always make your own from roof lathes. Ours are painted with fence paint and just fixed horizontally, spaced a batten width apart. No sweet peas just hardy fushia and clematis!
Sign In or Register to comment.