Growing a rose up into a venerable old apple tree which is now bearing few fruit but still alive is one thing … growing a rose into a dead tree whose roots will be rotting is not advisable … the tree will become ‘top heavy’ … the foliage will catch the wind like a sail and bring the tree crashing down just as happens to dead trees when ivy takes over.
If I had a large dead tree and the space to do it I would have it felled and the smaller branches removed, then grow rambling roses over the trunk … it would look beautiful while being the most wonderful wildlife resource for birds, small mammals and invertebrates … without being dangerous.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Sweet peas need lots of food and lots of water, so no, I don't think they would suit. They'll get to around 6 - 8 feet or so, but they need the right conditions to do that. I think it would be a mistake to plant a permanent climber for the reasons we gave earlier. If it established, it's likely to help bringing the tree down in future
Whether you damaged it by cutting that root or not, if it's not living, it's now more vulnerable to coming down in bad weather. Annuals would let you see what the tree's condition is like this autumn/winter, and you can take a view on it then.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. By the way, the tree is producing new branches at the base so only dead at the top. I like the idea to cut out the top canopy of the tree. I will leave the main trunk and around three main but shorter branches and plant a climbing or rambling rose. There is so much choice it's confusing. For a climbing rose I like the look of David Austin The Generous Gardener. My concern with a rambling rose is that it might ramble over everything else in the front garden, and be difficult to control. Perhaps that's not such a bad thing. I better get on with planting the annual climber seeds, cutting back and clearing around the base of the tree for now - lots to do!
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I think it would be a mistake to plant a permanent climber for the reasons we gave earlier. If it established, it's likely to help bringing the tree down in future
Whether you damaged it by cutting that root or not, if it's not living, it's now more vulnerable to coming down in bad weather. Annuals would let you see what the tree's condition is like this autumn/winter, and you can take a view on it then.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
By the way, the tree is producing new branches at the base so only dead at the top.
I like the idea to cut out the top canopy of the tree. I will leave the main trunk and around three main but shorter branches and plant a climbing or rambling rose. There is so much choice it's confusing. For a climbing rose I like the look of David Austin The Generous Gardener. My concern with a rambling rose is that it might ramble over everything else in the front garden, and be difficult to control. Perhaps that's not such a bad thing. I better get on with planting the annual climber seeds, cutting back and clearing around the base of the tree for now - lots to do!