I built a new house out of stone and brick. Partly I did this for good looks, partly for less maintenance..... but MOSTLY, of course, for a friendly surface on which to train climbing plants. I am training some truly clinging plants (boston ivy, climbing hydrangeas and relatives) directly on the wall. Opinions vary as to whether that can damage the wall or require mortise/chinking repair, though I read a good article somewhere in the last 6 months which suggested that well-constructed walls with these kind of climbers did NOT require more reworking than those without plants. ANYWAY, that's not my question....
My question is how you train non-masonry clinging plants (roses and clematis foremost among them). up the walls. Trellises are, of course, an answer. But my goal would be to have a system that is as minimally conspicuous as possible, will let the beauty of the wall itself shine through, but will provide the support needed to allow these plants to get as big as I/they want, with the structure looking as invisible as possible.
The basic answer I have heard, is some combination of lag bolts or screws and galvanized construction wire. But when I go to Lowes or HD or the local hardware store (there are a few left which we visit), what exactly do I buy? How do I install it? What kind of spacing? A fan shape radiating up from the crown of the clematis/rose? What about vertical/horizontal grid?
Any suggestions? What works for you?
Thanks, David
training roses and clematis up stone and brick walls
David,
I so happened to have Clematis climbing up my front stackstone wall. I had another fast growing vine to aid the clem. with its initial take off.(Pandora Vine -- however, will not work in your climate because it's only hardy to sub-tropical like environment). But, as you mentioned, too much vines, trelises, arbor will obscure the beauty of the Stone wall.
I haven't done this, but bird netting, especially a muted color one over the surface of the wall to help the vine climb? It seems that would also aid on maintenance, say you would want to take these vines down at one point or another to groom, dead head spent flowers, etc... Once the task is done, you can pull the netting, vines and all back up onto the wall?
My Pandora vines toughed it out beautifully, complimented my Clematis for two years in our zone, then it bid me farewell. Taking the dead vine off which has intertwinned with the fagril clem. pretty much take care of the Clematis' previous growth. This season's growing just begun, my clem. is poking it head through the ground and appears healthy and vigorous. (Montana var. Ruben) I'm thinking seriously on trying out this netting method.
Happy gardening.
This message was edited Mar 15, 2007 12:42 PM