Clematis: Advice on structures for clems, 0 by pirl

pirl wrote:
Thanks to all.

It had a primer coat and two more coats of paint. He only made one of them (that was enough for him!). I believe it was cedar.

I'd agree that it's worth the investment of time to reinforce it if you have any doubts about the strength of the structure.

I don't know anything about growing peonies in Florida and the peonies were planted there at the start of that garden (also 1995) and weren't planted to shade the roots of the Ramona clematis, Blue Moon and Dr. Ruppel but it worked out well. Do not plant on the inside! You'll have problems pruning. I used clear vinyl mesh, about 4" square, to start the clematis growing upward and then they did the rest on their own.

Here's the new one with the top I don't like at all.