Hi - thanks for offering such handy advice!
I have a 5m x 5m patio next to a 2m fence that I am turning in to a secluded area by building a pergola. Actually, the big need for the structure is also shade and protection from wind. It gets breezy here. Part of the Pergola design includes trellis. I want to grow climbing plants up the side and over the top. Do you have any suggestions for something that grows quite quickly, is attractive (and if possible, fragrant) and doesn't mind being alternately wind blasted and sun baked?
Have you thought about honeysuckle - Grows quick, makes a good screen and is fragrant - Hopefully ticks all the boxes.
Chilled
Some varieties of Clematis are fragrant and grow reasonably quickly, they also have pretty flowers. Honeysuckle is my favourite though.
Agree, and can recommend .clematis armandii 'cos it's evergreen, fragrant and floriferous early season, and vigorous.]
If the site is challenging just take extra steps to provide a deep fertile soil, so that it can find what it needs, particularly soil water.
Can also recommend Russian Vine (Mile-a-minute) Polygonum baldschuanicum[/]. Not fragrant, but vigorous, and although deciduous forms a dense screen of twiggy growth, effectively providing year-round cover. Also tough as old boots.
When I did the same thing I planted a half dozen climbing roses... used 6 different colours, the all intertwined and the smell was amazing... took 2 years to reach the top, but was worth the wait... in the meantime I used garden netting to give us the privacy we needed
Steve & Lorraine
I have made a pergola on my allotment, it is part for concealment but it has an altogether more important purpose and that is for growing grape vines.
If you are going to be growing anything, why not make it functional as well. I am looking forward to the grapes.
Good point. Woodland Wanderer, except where the plant doesn't fit the situation...
Outdoor grapes in the UK are a bit 'challenging' aren't they?
For those who don't care much about gardening I'd argue in favour of the easy, no-brainer options, but acknowledge that options exist for the more ambitious.
This is a powerful thread. The question of privacy affects us all - may the day soon come when privacy is irrelevant! - until that time let's choose our plants wisely....
I'm not much of a gardener so can not say how suitable a choice it would be with respect to weather, soil etc but a friend of mine has planted a kiwi fruit tree as screening for his hot tub. Every time I go around, it seems to have grown another meter or two.
Have fun,
Ian.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
I like a challenge though, and the vines are where they catch most sun. I had a bit of a problem with a late frost last year, but at the moment it looks very promising, in fact I think it will be a good year for fruit all round.
Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I do like honeysuckle as an option, but the kiwi tree idea will have me googling all evening, I think. Roses might be an option. I have quite a bit of space to play with, so I might be able to go with more than one type of plant...
Just looked up growing Kiwis and it looks like a really good idea. I'll have to check soil acidity, by the look of it, but otherwise conditions look right and I like the look of the plants. Like the fruit too! Thanks for that suggestion it would never have occurred to me!
Russian Vine grows very quickly.
R.B.
Russian Vine grows very quickly.
It does if you bribe it enough.
Allegedly....
:police:
Nice one!
R.B.
Yes but grape vines have got to be the best because they are edible, and you can make wine, it is all looking very good this year. Last year it was all spoiled by a late frost.
I also have black currants, red currants, cherries and lots and lots of apples, oh and some strawberries too.