First of all let me introduce myself. I'm not a new gardener, but I'm
faced with tidying up after builders and doing hard landscaping and
the like after having a big extension built and largish patio area put
in.

In the middle of the patio, surrounded by two house walls and a fence
is a 1x2m bed. The whole of my garden, including this sheltered bed in
south facing, and because it's surrounded by brick and paving I assume
the bed will get warm.

At the "north-end" of this bed I want to put up a little bit of
trellis (1m wide and about 1m high) to add a little bit of height and
to hide an ugly little wall with pipe-work, sockets and a tap on it.
So we have a sheltered, south facing bed with a short bit of trellis
about 1m high and 1 m wide.

Now the question is... what can I grow up it for a splash of colour?

As I live in Derbyshire I would like a hardy perennial if possible.

All of the climbing plants I've looked at will grow too big. The
shorter varieties of clematis I've read about don't tend to climb but
seem to be sub-shrubs.

Now, my other question is whether I can grow something up the trellis
that would normally - if left to its own devices - grow much taller
than my 1m or so, but keep it pruned hard back. Will it thrive and
flower or will it struggle and die off? I'm a novice at pruning as you
will have guessed.

Am I limited to growing a bit of Ivy up it, or can I do better by
keeping a more colourful, interesting but vigorous climber cut right
back to within my trellis's limits?

On 19/2/07 16:08, in article
,
" wrote:

snip
about 1m high and 1 m wide.

Now the question is... what can I grow up it for a splash of colour?

As I live in Derbyshire I would like a hardy perennial if possible.

All of the climbing plants I've looked at will grow too big. The
shorter varieties of clematis I've read about don't tend to climb but
seem to be sub-shrubs.

There's a low growing but climbing Clematis called The Pixie which might
answer your need.
http://tinyurl.com/2nhhwd
snip
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

wrote in message
oups.com...
First of all let me introduce myself. I'm not a new gardener, but I'm
faced with tidying up after builders and doing hard landscaping and
the like after having a big extension built and largish patio area put
in.

In the middle of the patio, surrounded by two house walls and a fence
is a 1x2m bed. The whole of my garden, including this sheltered bed in
south facing, and because it's surrounded by brick and paving I assume
the bed will get warm.

At the "north-end" of this bed I want to put up a little bit of
trellis (1m wide and about 1m high) to add a little bit of height and
to hide an ugly little wall with pipe-work, sockets and a tap on it.
So we have a sheltered, south facing bed with a short bit of trellis
about 1m high and 1 m wide.

Now the question is... what can I grow up it for a splash of colour?

As I live in Derbyshire I would like a hardy perennial if possible.

All of the climbing plants I've looked at will grow too big. The
shorter varieties of clematis I've read about don't tend to climb but
seem to be sub-shrubs.

Now, my other question is whether I can grow something up the trellis
that would normally - if left to its own devices - grow much taller
than my 1m or so, but keep it pruned hard back. Will it thrive and
flower or will it struggle and die off? I'm a novice at pruning as you
will have guessed.

Am I limited to growing a bit of Ivy up it, or can I do better by
keeping a more colourful, interesting but vigorous climber cut right
back to within my trellis's limits?


I did have a Clematis alpina growing up a trellis which always fell off and
formed a rather attractive mound about the height you require.
I don't really understand why you want to put up such a small trellis and
then have the problem of trying to cover it up.?
Could you not just plant a few shrubs which would do the same job but IMHO
would look better?

You could try Chaenomoles. I have one trained to grow up the side of a shed. Train it out on leaders sideways and cut off anything that grows forwards so it hugs the trellis. They come in many different colours and flower in late winter/early spring followed by edible (well jam making) fruit in late summer/autumn. Cut back after flowering.

On 19 Feb, 16:08, wrote:
At the "north-end" of this bed I want to put up a little bit of
trellis (1m wide and about 1m high) to add a little bit of height and
to hide an ugly little wall with pipe-work, sockets and a tap on it.
So we have a sheltered, south facing bed with a short bit of trellis
about 1m high and 1 m wide.
Now the question is... what can I grow up it for a splash of colour?

I have on 1mx1m trellis a ceonothus (californian lilac) though I don't
know the variety, in a pot against the wall, south facing just like
your situation. It has thrived there for 3 years and I prune it in mid
spring because it flowers late (early flowering varieties should be
pruned after flowering). So it depends what you are going to get and
you will then know how to prune it. I tie the new stems on the trellis
when they are growing forward. You could also get a cotonoaster
horizontalis, which would give you formidable colours in the autumn
and winter with the berries. I also have one, but it seeked the sun
and now is almost outside my property, over a wall cascading onto the
pavement! I prune it just above the pavement, giving it a little
skirt ) If you prune it regularly you ought to be able to keep on
top of it.

Both could be let to their own devices covering the ugly bits of pipe
you want to hide at the back, but keep it neat and bushy at the front.

wrote in message
oups.com...
First of all let me introduce myself. I'm not a new gardener, but I'm
faced with tidying up after builders and doing hard landscaping and
the like after having a big extension built and largish patio area put
in.

In the middle of the patio, surrounded by two house walls and a fence
is a 1x2m bed. The whole of my garden, including this sheltered bed in
south facing, and because it's surrounded by brick and paving I assume
the bed will get warm.

At the "north-end" of this bed I want to put up a little bit of
trellis (1m wide and about 1m high) to add a little bit of height and
to hide an ugly little wall with pipe-work, sockets and a tap on it.
So we have a sheltered, south facing bed with a short bit of trellis
about 1m high and 1 m wide.

Now the question is... what can I grow up it for a splash of colour?

As I live in Derbyshire I would like a hardy perennial if possible.

All of the climbing plants I've looked at will grow too big. The
shorter varieties of clematis I've read about don't tend to climb but
seem to be sub-shrubs.

Now, my other question is whether I can grow something up the trellis
that would normally - if left to its own devices - grow much taller
than my 1m or so, but keep it pruned hard back. Will it thrive and
flower or will it struggle and die off? I'm a novice at pruning as you
will have guessed.

Am I limited to growing a bit of Ivy up it, or can I do better by
keeping a more colourful, interesting but vigorous climber cut right
back to within my trellis's limits?


Passion flower. When it gets established it will cover your trellis easily.