Good morning! Climbing plants for the garden. Annual, perennial, for the garden, and for pots. Read about which climbers are worth focusing on. Good morning! Today, let's talk about climbing plants that we can weave in our garden or in pots. There will be hops (Mr. Dad's favorite climber), wisteria, honeysuckle, clematis, hydrangea, and climbing rose, cup-and-saucer vine, nasturtium, and clematis.
Climbers are a bit like us. Why? According to the PWN dictionary, "to reach well-lit places located in the upper parts of the plant cover, they develop long stems, carrying leaves and flowers at the top." Climbers, like us, strive for light, higher and higher, as long as it's warm.
Climbers for the garden:
1. Hops - Mr. Dad's favorite climber
Resilient, vigorously growing, green plant. It comes from North America. It is suitable for both urban and suburban gardens. Hops are less susceptible to frost because they start their growing season later in spring, so their young shoots are not exposed to frost. During a harsh winter, even older stems can freeze, but the plant will rebound in spring. The trumpet-shaped flowers of Hops can be in red, yellow, dark red, apricot, orange, orange-red, and apricot-yellow colors. Hops are great for covering walls and columns. The plant blooms from July to September. Hops need 2-3 years to establish good root systems. After this time, it can tolerate various disruptions in the soil. If propagating Hops from seeds, you'll have to wait for flowering for 5-8 years. Like other climbers, Hops thrive in a sunny location. It doesn't have significant soil requirements; it should be well-draining, moderately fertile, neutral, or slightly acidic or slightly alkaline. Hops are rather resistant to pests but can be attacked by powdery mildew, spider mites, and aphids. Hops cuttings should be purchased from reputable sources to avoid buying seed-grown plants. For the first 2 years after planting, it needs support and winter protection. After planting, cut Hops to 15 cm to encourage bushy growth. New shoots should be tied to the sides. Regularly remove weak shoots, and remove seeds to promote better flowering. Pruning Hops is done in spring - at the end of March and early April. Prune the young shoots above 2-3 pairs of buds above the main stem. Summer pruning is done for sanitation.
Watch our video about Hops: "Hops - why is it worth having in your garden?" and "Why doesn't Hops bloom?".
2. Clematis - beautiful and popular in Polish gardens
We recorded a whole podcast about clematis, feel free to listen to it: "Clematis - how to plant, cultivate, and cut."
3. Honeysuckle - also known as woodbine or caprifolium (folk name)
Another climber, like hops, with tubular flowers. Honeysuckle blooms from May to October, producing decorative flowers (orange-red, yellow, white, scarlet, or purple), as well as fruits (from July to October). Honeysuckle blooms 2 to 4 years after planting. It can grow up to 2 meters per year, reaching a height of 3 meters. This climber prefers a sunny location but will also grow well in partial shade. It requires a wind-sheltered position. It feels good on almost any soil except exceptionally dry and poor soil. If it grows in dry but sunny locations, it may be attacked by aphids (from May). Depending on the variety, honeysuckles react differently to powdery mildew - in some varieties, powdery mildew causes the leaves to dry out. To avoid disease development, you can use a spray when the first symptoms appear. Honeysuckle is best planted near supports, 30 centimeters away from the support and other plants. Before planting, put manure or compost at the base of the honeysuckle and cover the plant with fertile soil. Honeysuckle does not require intensive pruning. After planting, prune the seedling to 1/3 of its height to encourage strong stems at the base. Leave only 2-4 main stems from the new shoots. In spring, remove only interfering branches, and every 5-6 years rejuvenate the plant. It will thrive in the company of clematis. Honeysuckle likes abundant watering and fertilization. It is best to fertilize it at the end of April.
How to propagate honeysuckle? Find out in our video: "Workshops on propagating plants - deciduous shrubs."
4. Wisteria - also known as glycine or sweet pea - long-lived climber
It comes from North America and East Asia. It can reach up to 10 meters in height. Its flowers are violet-blue and grow in clusters. In autumn and winter, you can also admire Wisteria's fruits - fuzzy pods that can reach a length of 15 cm. The most popular Wisteria in our gardens is Asian varieties, where flower buds appear in autumn and begin to bloom in May. Wisteria can live up to 100 years
