This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Climber for a north east wall
Mother Hen2
Posts: 41
I have a very unsightly north east facing wall which has a large expanse of brickwork which I would like to cover. I'd like to plant a climber to help soften it but am torn between wanting to cover it with something like a Parthenocissus which I know WILL cover the entire wall but will also potentially invade the roof etc or something a little less invasive which may not actually cover it. I would ideally like something which will provide an effect in a shorter time period, ruling out Hydrangea petolaris etc.
Ideas?
0
Posts
There are lots of clematis that would be happy here if you can provide wires stretched between vine eyes screwed to the wall in horizontal rows anything form 12 to 18 inches apart. You could plant more than one to have a variety of colours of flower but do make sure they are from the same pruning group or things could get complicated. Viticellas are probably the easiest group as they are vigorous and can be pruned almost to the ground every March and will then produce new growth with flowers all summer long and into autumn. Have a look at Betty Corning (scented), Etoile Rose, Pagoda, Hagelby Pink and its white form, Lisboa, Melody. Nelly Moser and Perle d'Azur have larger, flatter blloms and can be treated as group 3s and pruned like th eviticellas if you want to contrast form as well as colour.
Climbing roses such as Golden Showers, Paul's Scarlet and New Dawn will also do well and provide repeated flowering through the summer.
Both roses and clematis are gross feeders so need really good soil preparatin and annual feeds to keep them looking good and blooming.
Rose Mdme Alfred Carrie would be a good bet, semi evergreen and will give a very quick coverage in a year or two. It does best with a wire frame, but the effort is worth it. It'll flower from June right through till christmas if the weather is kind aand the flowers, white with a hint of pink, smell delicious.
Montana's can be a pig to control as can the virginia creeper and neither have the almost year round interest provided by the rose.
They are vigorous and get quickly out of hand and if not regularly pruned they flower at the top and not all over. They flower early when it's too cold to sit out and enjoy the view of their flowers. They are dull for 49 weeks of the year but make a good backdrop to other plants when in leaf but not a good solo feature except for the 2 or 3 weeks they are in flower.
Have a look at these - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=189 and https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=169 for rose pruning advice to boost your confidence.
Can also recommend Rosa 'New Dawn'. I have one in a similar position. Very easy to prune. I treat as a regular shrub and cut back sideshoots to 3 buds immediately after flowering. In this position it doesn't get out of control but still flowers prolifically.