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What to grow??

Jennifer191Jennifer191 Posts: 11
in Problem solving

I have a south west facing wall which is part of my neighbours extension and I have tried for a few years now to grow various climbers up it.  I have tried clematis and honey suckle but they haven't thrived at all.  I have enriched the soil at the base of the wall but it dries out very quickly.   This is a very hot sun trap in summer.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Honeysuckle certainly wouldn't be happy in that aspect and location - it's a woodland plant.

    Clematis also need a lot  of moisture, so you need to get them out of the lee of the wall, and water them copiously. There are plenty of varieties which will be happy in that aspect if you can give them the right care.

    You'll need to do that with anything you plant, unless it's something that likes bone dry ground. The ground at the foot of a wall is always drier than the ground a little further out.

    However, aside from that, does your neighbour know you're growing plants on their wall? image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Jennifer191Jennifer191 Posts: 11

    Thanks Fairy girl, yes she does know. We are semi detached and it's the side that we are attached if you know what I mean and its smack bang to the left of my patio so I had to make it look pretty and add a bit of greenery to it.  the problem is there is only about 16 inches of soil before my paving starts.  I water well in summer and mulch.  I also have a wisteria growing up and over my patio doors which is in the same bit but close to my house which absolutely thrives.  I wonder if this is also taking all the moisture from that area.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    I agree with

    everything Fairygirl has said above. When you have improved the soil conditions and fixed a trellis or support wires to the wall ( with your neighbours permission of course) I would plant a Campsis radicans which will benefit from the sunny sheltered situation. 

    image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    Just a thought, might we clarify which part of the country you're in ( roughly ) ? What grows well in milder areas might struggle elsewhere.

    Devon.
  • Jennifer191Jennifer191 Posts: 11

    Thanks Dovefromabove, I have just looked up your suggestion, never seen one of these growing before, they look quite exotic.  What about passion flower? There is already a trellis attached to the wall.

    I'm in North Nottingham, East Mids Hostafan1

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    I have a Passion flower growing in very similar conditions, which does very well. I am in Sheffield.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    I've removed all my P. cerulea as they just pushed their luck too far. Too vigorous on the leaf front and too shy on the flowering front. And very bossy neighbours.

    Devon.
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