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

Flowering climber for north facing fence

2»

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I missed your previous query re the existing clematis. If it's spring or early summer flowering, it can be pruned after that, as hard as you want really. It looks as if it's a montana of some kind, judging by the heft of the main trunks, and they can certainly be hacked right back without a problem. A close up would help though.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    edited April 2022
    Thanks as usual for all the suggestions.

    Here are a few photos of the existing one @Fairygirl

    There are plenty of buds on it currently.







    Is where I've marked on this photo an ok place to cut back to after flowering or is that being too harsh?


  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    We eventually had to have a new fence as our clematis Montana and an ivy completely overwhelmed it…However prior to that we hacked it to almost ground level twice ( in 20+years) and it grew back to cover 20 feet of fence so you can be quite ruthless. Now have 2 golden hop, which tortishell( can’t remember how to spell!) butterfly caterpillars eat, it must taste like nettles. It’s easy to look after as it dies back over winter. Oh the joys of aging 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - montana. You can cut them right back hard. Further than you've marked. It'll rejuvenate it  :)
    You'd probably want to wait until it's flowered, just so that you can enjoy the flowers.
    You could also add trellis or good wires horizontally, so that you can train new stems more, and get better coverage lower down, and therefore get more benefit from the flowering period. I did that in a previous garden as it was on quite a low fence, in between the section going round the back door, and the other end where I had a small pergola entrance over the gate. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Have ordered a montana Grandiflora from Taylors Clematis.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    There are a few roses that will do well north facing. The white Alfred Carriere is the only one I can remember. but I am sure you can check the RHS lists.
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    Madame Alfred Carriere will flower well but she is a beast. Puts on about 2m growth each season, I think she might be too much for a fence?
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    We have a James Galway climbing rose that is doing well on a north facing wall - lots of flowers all through the summer and a good scent too.

    Hydrangea petiolaris also does well.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Fairygirl said:
    Yes - montana. You can cut them right back hard. Further than you've marked. It'll rejuvenate it  :)
    You'd probably want to wait until it's flowered, just so that you can enjoy the flowers.
    You could also add trellis or good wires horizontally, so that you can train new stems more, and get better coverage lower down, and therefore get more benefit from the flowering period. I did that in a previous garden as it was on quite a low fence, in between the section going round the back door, and the other end where I had a small pergola entrance over the gate. 
    To follow on from this @Fairygirl, do you know of any recommended kits for wire and vine eyes? There seem to be a lot of options on amazon but as simple as possible without turnbuckles, crimps etc. would be best.
Sign In or Register to comment.