How to secure clematis to a fence?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Has anybody got any ideas how I can secure my rapidly-growing jackmanii clematis to my vinyl fence? It's a solid surface fence - not slats - and there are no gaps between the fence panels and the support posts.

I have tied baling twine to the top of the support post so the clematis can (and has) climb up the twine, but then what? How can I get it to lay along the top of the fence without falling over the other side? This fence marks the boundary between me and my neighbor, and obviously I'd like to enjoy my flowers rather than have them falling on his side where I can't see them. The fence is approximately 6' high.

I thought of masking tape, but I don't know if it will hinder the growth. Has anybody ever tried to lay/mold chicken wire along the top of the fence? I'm not sure that would work.

This isn't my fence, but it looks quite a bit like it. And this is the look I'm trying for.

Featured Answer

totoro z7b Md

9 years ago

I use these hook eyes that are glued to any surface with non damaging silicone glue. It comes with wire you can thread through the hook eyes. So far I have used it on brick and wood and it has held up for a year and still going.

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Comments (7)

Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
9 years ago
That is a beautiful photo and I can see why you want to replicate it !

I've never drilled into vinyl fence before so I can't help you there. You could use 2x 4s ( or those metal fence posts , seat them white and it'll blend in! They use them often on farms )and staple or attatch chicken wire to that as big as you like and let it cover it. I would give it at least 6 inches from your fence purely for air circulation. Or start shopping around for the biggest trellis ( wire or metal not wood ) that you can find . That would look pretty! You can always just keep pulling the vines back to your side I suppose. Those are just my random thoughts and I'm no expert. :)
littlebug zone 5 Missouri thanked Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
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buyorsell888
9 years ago
we bought the thickest rebar at Home Depot and wired those flat wire mesh grids for reinforcing concrete to them and stood them up in front of our cedar fence. Works much better than anything we had in the past attached to the fence.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri thanked buyorsell888
totoro z7b Md
9 years ago
I should caveat my solution in that I have only used it to hold up climbing roses. Clematis may be too heavy.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri thanked totoro z7b Md
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
Totoro's solution is one that can be used for clematis (I've seen photos from other gardeners that use it) but I've not seen it used on vinyl fence, only on brick or other masonry so I would research whether it will work on the fence and not damage it. I think it might be easiest if you did something like BorS888 with a free-standing trellis in front of the fence. I am not sure if the vinyl is structurally solid enough to hold the clematis weight.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
windymess z6a KC, Ks
9 years ago
Hi Littlebug, I have been thinking about trying this Wall Trellis Kit because somewhere here in the clematis forum other people were writing good things about it. I have a wood fence along the back, with metal fencing on the sides of the yard, so I don't know about the vinyl but it says it works on plastic. The two clematis I have growing in the garden are climbing up laticework under the porch. I have a small new one in a pot... sitting on my porch. I'll need to figure something out for it when I put it in the ground, and it will need to be against my fence somewhere - no more room on the lattice.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri thanked windymess z6a KC, Ks
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, windymess. Now who would have thought of looking on Amazon for such a thing??!! I may try that. Looks perfect.