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Climbing Plants Suit Small Gardens
Use climbing foliage and flora to blur garden planes, hide unsightly features and soften imposing landscape boundaries
Houzz Contributor. I have been involved all my working life with design, garden design, horticulture and garden retailing. At present I work as a buyer for a large garden centre in the south west of England where I live in the idyllic Devon countryside. My passion for small garden design and the lifestyle it brings has lead me to write about it on my blog, www.yardz.typepad.co.uk for the last four years.
Houzz Contributor. I have been involved all my working life with design,... More »
Our 21st-century lifestyle has left many of us with smaller gardens, where every inch of outdoor space is precious. Through the use of climbers and wall shrubs, we can expand our planting opportunity, giving us a wealth of form, color and texture right through the gardening year.
Besides being decorative, climbers have a multitude of uses in the small garden. They soften hard edges, camouflage unsightly structures and even distract the eye from unwanted features outside the garden.
Below are some ways to use climbers for both decorative and utilitarian purposes in the garden.
Besides being decorative, climbers have a multitude of uses in the small garden. They soften hard edges, camouflage unsightly structures and even distract the eye from unwanted features outside the garden.
Below are some ways to use climbers for both decorative and utilitarian purposes in the garden.
by Scot Eckley Inc
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Soften Imposing Hardscapes
The boundaries of small, enclosed spaces can be overpowering, and through the use of plants we can soften and even decorate garden walls in the same way we use wallpaper in our homes.
Here, evergreen ivy covers the wall and surrounds the outdoor fireplace, but is kept carefully under control. Create an even more decorative use of ivy by planting different varieties together, allowing them to grow and interweave for a kaleidoscope of colors.
The boundaries of small, enclosed spaces can be overpowering, and through the use of plants we can soften and even decorate garden walls in the same way we use wallpaper in our homes.
Here, evergreen ivy covers the wall and surrounds the outdoor fireplace, but is kept carefully under control. Create an even more decorative use of ivy by planting different varieties together, allowing them to grow and interweave for a kaleidoscope of colors.
This garden exemplifies a good use of the two main groups of plants that can be used to cover and decorate walls. Wall shrubs, such as the Pyracantha forming the dramatic garden archway, tend to be slower growing than the other group — the climbers.
Climbers can be divided into free climbers, such as ivy, that use aerial roots to self-attach, and clingy climbers, such as clematis, which need some sort of exterior support (like a trellis) to cling to with their tendrils or leaves.
Climbers can be divided into free climbers, such as ivy, that use aerial roots to self-attach, and clingy climbers, such as clematis, which need some sort of exterior support (like a trellis) to cling to with their tendrils or leaves.
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Of all the wall shrubs, Pyracantha is probably the most used. It is evergreen and produces white flowers in late spring, followed by sparkling berries. Here the Pyracantha has been carefully trimmed to link with the formal, minimalistic garden design. For a softer look, evergreen wall shrubs can be interplanted with climbers such as summer-flowering clematis or the herbaceous perennial Tropaeolum peregrinum, the 'Canary Creeper'. If you are planting a shrub-climber combination, make sure that the climber isn't too vigorous or it will overwhelm the shrub.
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| Save Space With Upward Growth Plants brighten up any boundary and make it a bit more interesting. If you don't have space for a hedge or wall shrub, climbers can be great space savers in a small garden — they climb vertically and won't protrude into the yard if you give them a little care and pruning. In this yard, a fast-growing free climber conserves space, and the planting now seems to flow from the beds to the top of the wall in one swift movement. |
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Cover a Screen
Some rampant climbers have a bad reputation, but used carefully and kept under control, they can be of great use as screening plants on suitable structures. The most rampant of these climbers in temperate climates is Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica), but even this can be treated almost as a topiary through constant trimming and shaping of its shoots. It also has beautiful racemes of pink-tinged white flowers held in abundance over the late summer.
Some rampant climbers have a bad reputation, but used carefully and kept under control, they can be of great use as screening plants on suitable structures. The most rampant of these climbers in temperate climates is Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica), but even this can be treated almost as a topiary through constant trimming and shaping of its shoots. It also has beautiful racemes of pink-tinged white flowers held in abundance over the late summer.
| Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), another vigorous climber, is a perfect quick cover on a structure using a self-clinging climber. It is shown here in its green summer clothing, which makes an excellent background for paler plants, but its vinelike leaves give a dazzling autumn display of red and crimson. |
by sllasf.com
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Mask Unsightly Surfaces
Climbers can be a form of disguise, softening unattractive walls and camouflaging sheds, garages and outbuildings under a cloak of green.
Climbers can be a form of disguise, softening unattractive walls and camouflaging sheds, garages and outbuildings under a cloak of green.
by Bright Green
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The sheer scope and diversity of climbing plants allows you to interpret your own individual style. The latest solution is to install a living wall. This wall was installed using a modular planting system supplied by Bright Green. Suitable plants are grown in cells of the Grovert Planter, which can be fixed to your wall using special brackets. Water either trickles down from the top planters or is dispersed via a drip-feed system.
More:
11 Inspiring Vertical Gardens
Vertical Gardens Raise the Limits for Landscapes
More:
11 Inspiring Vertical Gardens
Vertical Gardens Raise the Limits for Landscapes
Comments
brendanf Plant Russian Vine at your peril
13 months ago · Like
ikeeks I'm in love with green walls. i purchase a green wall kit from Florafelt in California. It's indoor or outdoor, and it seems easier to manage than Woolly Pockets. They have a variety of kits from small to larger walls. I haven't planted it yet, but I will give it a go this year. I would love any photos of green walls for ideas. (in NYC).
13 months ago · Like
Vibhawari N I love the ideas of Climbing Plants . they are really very beautiful
13 months ago · Like
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CAROLE MEYER These are all wonderful!
13 months ago · Like
snaughton pyracantha has some killer thorns - we lost many a ball and balloon as kids to the pyracantha in my parents backyard - the red berries looked great in our mud pies however!
13 months ago · Like
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hotcoffee I like the use of what looks like a type of moss between the concrete sections of the first photo. Can anyone tell my exactly what plant material is being used?
13 months ago · Like
Tenshon, LLC I'm a big fan of Creeping Fig. Here in AZ it does amazing all year round. Another favorite of mine is Pink Bower Vine. I love the trumpet flowers, it just has a little harder time in frost conditions.
13 months ago · Like
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Annemarijne van der Vaart I recently got a passion fruit plant and I love it. The flowers are beautiful and they cover my otherwise very empty wall nicely. You only need to install some wires or framework for the plant to climb.
13 months ago · Like
eclecticjourney I planted passion flower vine two years ago and it traveled under the side walk and is coming up 10 feet away in the middle of the yard in every direction. It is choking out other plants (White Star Jasmine) that have been growing for over 10 years. The flowers are beautiful but very difficult to control.
12 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on April 27, 2012.
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