You could try a hop ( good if you make your own beer) which has grape-like leaves ( can be golden or green) and nice little hops hanging down in late summer. The vines scramble by means of sandpaper-rough stems (I admit, a bit of a beggar to dismantle each winter) and will grow to the top of a Rowan tree - the size of the one in my garden. Cut them down to ground level and off they go again in spring. They do spread by underground suckers so if space is limited you may have to plant them within a ring of plastic sheet like Visqueen.
I think mixed planting is a great idea - some things may work better than others anyway, so you'll find out which plants work best at your site quicker that way! You can use long canes or stakes to train them up to the decking level rather than them all having to use the main supports. If you do go for some clematis in the mix, look for group 1 types which don't need any special pruning - just lop off any extra growth you don't want.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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You could try a hop ( good if you make your own beer) which has grape-like leaves ( can be golden or green) and nice little hops hanging down in late summer. The vines scramble by means of sandpaper-rough stems (I admit, a bit of a beggar to dismantle each winter) and will grow to the top of a Rowan tree - the size of the one in my garden. Cut them down to ground level and off they go again in spring. They do spread by underground suckers so if space is limited you may have to plant them within a ring of plastic sheet like Visqueen.
Hops?! Hmmmmm More research!!
I think mixed planting is a great idea - some things may work better than others anyway, so you'll find out which plants work best at your site quicker that way! You can use long canes or stakes to train them up to the decking level rather than them all having to use the main supports. If you do go for some clematis in the mix, look for group 1 types which don't need any special pruning - just lop off any extra growth you don't want.
Thanks everyone. Research and a shopping list commence!!!