Train your new climbers

Get them in shape now for a blooming good show

Climbers need the right care to perform effectively, particularly when they’re new, like this clematis. They’re one type of plant that can’t be neglected or they’ll get unruly. They can’t look after themselves, so it falls to us to get the best of flowering and foliage from them! However, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t take a lot of work when you consider the worth they bring to the garden in brightening up our walls and other vertical spots.

Formative pruning and training will effectively determine the life of your climber, from where it grows out to, to the health of its foliage and how floriferous it is.

If you’re planting a new climber, make sure your trellis is fixed slightly away from the wall, to allow room for twining stems being tied into it. Once planted a little way from the wall, you can start training your new climber’s stems. Separate out all the stems to see how many you have, and aim for a fan shape. Tie in the separate, healthy stems and continue to keep an eye on the plant all summer to train and tie in all the further new growth.