I'd agree with @philippasmith2. Pots would be a better idea, or even a couple of small shrubs planted into the gravel, which wouldn't need much attention. I wondered what the posts were, but I thought it might be an old gate or similar. Really annoying for you though, that this person has created a problem for you with the climbers. I don't suppose it was cheap either I wish you well with getting something resolved. As those plants haven't been in long, they could remove them and no doubt find another customer for them. If so, they could refund you - you didn't get two clematis for a start, and they weren't suitable at all, especially if they told you they would attach to the wall themselves. Totally wrong.
The gardeners replied when I made a formal request to them to correct the issues. They said that they told me verbally that the plants would need encouragement to go up the wall and that because I didn't cut them back in February(they never said it before or in any of the written correspondence) that is why there is a problem with the plants not going up the wall.
I'm pretty gobsmacked that they would take that route just doubling down on it all, considering all of you have essentially said that they shouldn't even have been planted like, they of course completely ignored the part about the weed sheet not being laid correctly or the fact that white lightening isn't even a clematis lol. Sorry for going off topic for this forum at this point
Apparently I can't edit my post. They have agreed to remove the plants and refund me, as I made a compassionate plea to their work pride. Hopefully that goes smoothly tomorrow.
I'd just like to thank everyone for the warm welcome, helpful posts and all the advice, I feel when I move to the kind of place I'm looking for I will just do things myself next time and use a place like this as a resource as well as the new knowledge learnt in being here and trying to deal with the issue.
@evg Good for you. Apart from the fact that they were talking complete rubbish about the 2 plants, it sometimes pays just to appeal to their better nature as you did. Perhaps they realised that you DID know what you were talking about after all
Yea, the tune changed when I informed them of the plant not being Clematis and that I had a local professional and a whole forum of people saying the same thing about the plants needing dedicated climbing aids .
I won't mention some of the stuff they said previous to this, but you can probably imagine how bad it was, and it annoys me that people get taken advantage of and probably don't have the commitment to complain more than once or go seeking proper help, I'm 6ft6 and look like an ogre, so I don't have the intimidation factor that some people must have when dealing with cowboys, luckily there seems to be plenty of support out there and I was glad to chose this as 1 of the places I reached out in, cheers again.
Just catching up on this thread @evg - that's great that you've got a resolution. Well done for keeping up the pressure. They were clearly taking the proverbial, and probably thought you'd just assume they must 'know better' and wouldn't investigate.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You say that @Fairygirl (something else I learnt) but they tried to add in a jab this morning by doubling down on their idiocy. I've since been refunded, and they removed the plants without making a mess, so I'd consider that a result and some valuable lessons learned for both parties, well maybe just me then.
Good for you for sticking to your guns! They aren't clematis, but I think we covered where the confusion comes in, due to the appearance of the Florida clematis. The only similarity is that they're both climbers
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Bless 'em ... they just don't get it do they ........ total numbskulls ... way out of their depth. They'd better stick to laying gravel ... they seem to get that right. 🙄
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm glad you managed to get a resolution. Ignore their digs, it looks like they're trying to save face. It's a sad fact that some pro gardeners don't really know plants - the ones that mostly do grass cutting, hedge cutting and suchlike. Basic error not to know that many climbers aren't self-clinging and need a structure to climb up.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
That'll be the "Clematis/Passionflower 19" jab then ? You are at least innoculated against the Gardener now An excellent example of "having to have the last word" .
Posts
They were clearly taking the proverbial, and probably thought you'd just assume they must 'know better' and wouldn't investigate.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They aren't clematis, but I think we covered where the confusion comes in, due to the appearance of the Florida clematis. The only similarity is that they're both climbers
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
An excellent example of "having to have the last word" .