High and mighty

Selecting climbers for your garden might feel like a tall order sometimes, but it’s well within your reach

- TOBY BUCKLAND

I ONLY popped into the garden centre out of curiosity, merely to while away a few moments and certainly not to buy more plants.

Why would I? My flowerbeds and patio pots are already full to bursting and being a model of self-control, impervious to the impulse purchase, I am above temptation. But then I saw the climbers…

Most garden centres and nurseries have a few climbing plants, but rarely hold a wide selection – because the window when they’re looking good and are easy to sell is short. They are difficult to keep, as all it takes is a week of warm weather and the rampant stems join into an unsellable tangle.

So when I stumbled across this comprehensive range (Your Honour) from chocolate-scented akebia to wisteria, I ran for a trolley and filled it. Full borders are, after all, no barrier to entry for a climber. They might be big but, like a skyscraper, they occupy relatively little real estate at ground level.