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Dead Tree, what Climber?

Mrs PoppleMrs Popple Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hello
I have a dead tree on the boundary of my property, I think its a male cherry tree, around 15 feet or so. I would like to plant a climbing plant at the base to climb up and over it, but can't decide what would be best: Clematis? - (probably Montana), Trachelospermum? Chocolate Vine? Anything else?
It needs to be fairly rampant but not too rampant... The other issue is the ground around the tree is going to be difficult to get a spade in due to old roots and other plants around.
Any thoughts welcome, thanks!
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Lots of things would suit, but bear in mind that dead trees often fall down...  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    And, they are more likely to fall down, if you cover them with something which might act as a sail.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Perhaps an annual climbing vine that thrives in poor soil? You could probably dig out a big enough hole amongst the roots to pop in a young plant. It would need some vigour to be able to survive and climb, but since it will die off at the end of the season it shouldn’t be there long enough destabilise the tree. If the tree is ‘male’ it can’t be a cherry tree as they are non-gendered, btw, but since it’s dead it doesn’t really matter what it is 😊  
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Mrs PoppleMrs Popple Posts: 4
    That's not a bad idea, I hadn't thought of an annual climber. I'll give it a go. Interesting that the tree is  not what I thought it was. It was there when I moved in 20 years ago. By the way, I don't think it's in any danger of falling down, the roots are very thick. I cut a 3 inch diameter one out under my front lawn. I think that's what finished it off. 
  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,541
    A rose and some morning glory would look beautiful 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think I'd agree - have some annuals for now. Ones which like a slightly drier medium might be better, because it's going to be difficult to get a moisture retentive site for things like sweet peas, especially if there's any other planting nearby which will be competition.
    Digging the holes could be pretty tricky anyway, even for annuals,  and you'd need to add some rotted manure or hearty soil, or a J.Innes compost, to help with moisture retention.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Mrs PoppleMrs Popple Posts: 4
    Thanks Wonky Womble and Fairygirl
    A climbing rose and morning glory sound lovely.  In the Gardener's Words website I found: 'Nine annual climbers to grow' Sweet peas are nice but very fussy, would need better soil - I like the look of Cathedral Bells and Spanish Flag. Just got to find them, may have to grow from seed. I might put them in a bottomless pot near the tree with good compost, then they can find the soil underneath, hopefully :)
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    edited March 2022
    We had a very old conifer which we had to cut back. It left us with many long stumps so we planted a clematis to grow up and around. This was many years ago  and all OK until the last storm. Yes it all collasped. Took a long time to remove the old parts and "try" to keep the clematis. Made a new support from some of the great bamboos  we have growing in our garden and it is showing new growth again.
    We always try to keep trying with our plants.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Not a dead tree but a dying one - I have a senescent birch which is on its last legs. After chewing it over for a year, this winter I planted a climbing rose at its base (Paul's Himalayan Musk - supposed to be very vigorous)
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Sweet peas are not tall enough. There are plenty of repeat rambling roses or repeat climbing roses that would look great up a tree. A montana might be magnificent but only blooms for a few weeks. A baseless pot is a great idea.

    David Austin recommends for trees Cecile Brunner - repeat flowering.


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