Willow Trellis
Smufter
Posts: 12
Hi everybody.
New member, and have been browsing the site for a while now. Very informative and lots of useful information.
Just after a little advice if I may.
I am looking at installing some trellis under our living room bay window. I will be fixing three battens to the wall to mount the trellis on, one at each end and one in the middle. I have purchased two large(ish) willow trellis panels, (the expanding type) and these fit the space perfectly. Bearing in mind the trellis will only be attached where the battens are, am I likely to have a problem with the weight of the plants pulling the trellis away where it's not attached to the wall (I hope this makes sense!). I have tried to attach a picture to give you an idea of the space I am talking about. Thanks. Rob
Posts
Hi and welcome Smufter
What sort of climbers are you thinking of planting - then we'll know the sort of weight we're dealing with?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My husband decided that the expanding willow trellis wasn't strong enough so he bought some long thin slats of wood and has 2 along the length of the trellis (near top and bottom). Those are attached to our fence posts and the trellis is wired to them in 2 places. It seems pretty secure. I would think that attached in 2 places would be fine. I have to say that after adding 4 panels on recently, my husband said he thought it probably would have been fine without the slats.
On a brick wall in the front, we have a non-expanding type trellis. I think it was secured with only two battens originally, although I mentioned to my husband that the problem isn't the weight of the plant but if the wind uses it as a sail, so I think he may have attached them top and bottom and each side. Anyway, it sounds similar to what you are planning and supports quite a large jasmine. (Nothing has started growing yet this year so it all looks pretty bad.)
Hi Dove
thanks for replying....and for your reply Watery.
Have ordered 3 clematis. The area being planted is about 5 metres long, so should be perfect spacing (apparently!). Fairly new to all this, as you can most probably tell but looking forward to getting "stuck in".
Last edited: 24 February 2017 10:15:25
As long as they're not Montana or armandii types they should be fine.
It'll look great.
Don't forget that unlike most plants, you need to plant your clematis nice and deep - 8" deeper than they are in the pot is good - then they'll throw out lots of shoots from the bottom and be very happy.
Last edited: 24 February 2017 10:19:33
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks Dove. I made sure I avoided the Montana flavour. I've heard they can get a little uncontrollable lol!
Point taken about the planting depth, much appreciated.... and I'll make sure I plant them away from the base of the wall too. Can you tell I've been reading up??
I'll pop a piccie up when I've got the trellis in place.
Last edited: 24 February 2017 10:32:31
We like you already
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
All done. New plants arriving this week.....