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Climber advice - clay soil, south facing!!
Richard107
Posts: 3
Hi all, first time poster and novice gardener so all help appreciated!
I have a somewhat lopsided garage which I am attempting to conceal with a climber - it is a south-west facing wall, clay soil and I think an evergreen would be most suitable, ideally as bushy/concealing as possible. Also, fast growing preferably.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
0
Posts
Although not a climber as such, I think pyracantha might do the trick. It is evergreen, with dark green glossy leaves and strong stems that can be trained against a wall if given some trellis for support. It is bushy with some sharp thorns, but takes pruning well. It has bunches of white flowers in early summer, followed by berries in autumn and you can choose between red, yellow or orange - or have a couple
Makes good shelter for birds once it gets going too, and bees like the flowers. The berries though tend not to get eaten, so make a good display.
I love pyracantha and have at least two at all times
Clematis Armandii, evergreen and quite an aggressive climber, wouldn't put it on a house but a garage shouls be ok.
I'd get a rabling rose going too
As well as a wall shrub such as pyracantha, and flowering quince.
You'd have quite a sight in a year or two
Rosa Banksii Lutea would be my choice for a south facing wall. It is almost evergreen and is in a mild winter in the south. It is the most beautiful rose and is thornless. Where do you live? It may not do well in the north.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_banksiae
I have clay soil and have planted, successfully, the pyracantha, flowering quince (chaenomoles), clematis armandii, jasmine (winter and summer), roses and clematis. Clematis (apart from armandii) and roses are both deciduous but look lovely when intertwined.
I can confirm that both Chaenomeles and Clematis armandii grow well in heavy damp clay.
It should be fine. It's fully hardy.
I find Armandii a bit straggly. How about Passiflora caerulea? Its evergreen, grows very quickly in a sunny spot and produces great flowers. You could use wires or a trellis to get it going then it should self support after that. Trachelospermum Jasminoides is a great plant with a superb fragrance but it's a bit of a slow grower so of you wanted instant cover then you would need a decent sized one to start. I paid £30 for a 6 footer which I spread out and now entering its 3rd summer its about 12ft high and branching out above our front door around 5ft across. Im trying one on a North west Facing which I bought in the middle of summer last year. Will be interesting to see how it grows this year.