Problem with Pergola
 

Hope that is the correct term for the wooden structure in our garden. Actually it is not the pergola that is the problem but the mass of honeysuckle, clematis and ivy covering it. The honeysuckle is beautiful when it is flower with a heavenly scent but underneath the greenery there is a heavy layer of brown dead looking foliage so when you are sitting under the pergola the dead stuff is all you can see when you look up.
I just don't know where to start sorting it out. The pergola measures 3 metres long by 2m wide and 2m high.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Cyndie

Problem with Pergola
 

On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:35:42 +0000, sundays child
wrote:


Hope that is the correct term for the wooden structure in our garden.
Actually it is not the pergola that is the problem but the mass of
honeysuckle, clematis and ivy covering it. The honeysuckle is beautiful
when it is flower with a heavenly scent but underneath the greenery
there is a heavy layer of brown dead looking foliage so when you are
sitting under the pergola the dead stuff is all you can see when you
look up.
I just don't know where to start sorting it out. The pergola measures 3
metres long by 2m wide and 2m high.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Cyndie


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You need to choose just one plant and get rid of the others.

Problem with Pergola
 

On 8/12/12 10:35 AM, sundays child wrote:
Hope that is the correct term for the wooden structure in our garden.
Actually it is not the pergola that is the problem but the mass of
honeysuckle, clematis and ivy covering it. The honeysuckle is beautiful
when it is flower with a heavenly scent but underneath the greenery
there is a heavy layer of brown dead looking foliage so when you are
sitting under the pergola the dead stuff is all you can see when you
look up.
I just don't know where to start sorting it out. The pergola measures 3
metres long by 2m wide and 2m high.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Cyndie


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|Filename: honeysuckle 002.jpg |
|Download: http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=15220|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Yes, it is a pergola. From your photo, it appears that the growth of
honeysuckle might soon be too heavy for the wooden structure. I offer
two alternatives.

1. Prune the honeysuckle and clematis in the late winter, before new
growth starts. They might be dormant then, which is a very good time to
prune them. Cut them back severely, leaving only skeletons of branches;
you can even cut them to near the ground, leaving only a few visible
growth buds. Completely remove the ivy, digging it out to kill it if
possible. The honeysuckle and clematis will quickly recover in the
spring and again cover the pergola. They should be pruned every year.

Or

2. Cut everything down to the ground now. Spray new shoots with an
herbicide. Plant grapes that are suitable for your climate. These too
require annual pruning, and they grow as fast (or faster) than
honeysuckle or clematis. The benefit is a nice source of vine-ripened
fruit.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Pillars may become bare at the base. To help overcome this, spiral any new shoots around the post rather than allowing them to go straight up. If there is no new growth to tie in, cut back one or two of the main stems in early spring to stimulate basal growth. Overgrown plants on pergolas should be renovated in early spring.

Problem with Pergola
 

On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 20:13:29 -0700, "David E. Ross"
wrote:

On 8/12/12 10:35 AM, sundays child wrote:
Hope that is the correct term for the wooden structure in our garden.
Actually it is not the pergola that is the problem but the mass of
honeysuckle, clematis and ivy covering it. The honeysuckle is beautiful
when it is flower with a heavenly scent but underneath the greenery
there is a heavy layer of brown dead looking foliage so when you are
sitting under the pergola the dead stuff is all you can see when you
look up.
I just don't know where to start sorting it out. The pergola measures 3
metres long by 2m wide and 2m high.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Cyndie


+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: honeysuckle 002.jpg |
|Download: http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=15220|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Yes, it is a pergola. From your photo, it appears that the growth of
honeysuckle might soon be too heavy for the wooden structure. I offer
two alternatives.

1. Prune the honeysuckle and clematis in the late winter, before new
growth starts. They might be dormant then, which is a very good time to
prune them. Cut them back severely, leaving only skeletons of branches;
you can even cut them to near the ground, leaving only a few visible
growth buds. Completely remove the ivy, digging it out to kill it if
possible. The honeysuckle and clematis will quickly recover in the
spring and again cover the pergola. They should be pruned every year.

Or

2. Cut everything down to the ground now. Spray new shoots with an
herbicide. Plant grapes that are suitable for your climate.

Growing grapes will be a far worse mess on a pergola.