Heighten interest with Clever climbers

The only way is up if you want a crowded plot to feel more spacious. You’ll also attract wildlife, and enjoy walls of colour and scent in the months to come, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

IF space in the garden is tight – and, let’s face it, even the most generous plot can start to feel a bit crowded at this time of year – climbers are the perfect solution. These space-savers are incredibly useful plants, allowing us to clothe dull or unsightly buildings, boundaries and divides in foliage, flowers and scent. The covering they provide gives the illusion of a roomier garden, enhances privacy and reduces noise pollution. On top of that, they will bring birds into the garden by creating nesting thickets – some climbers can even deter burglars by way of thorns.

Many of them should be planted now, but what you choose will largely be dictated by where you want it, and it’s worth putting some thought into your decision. If you want a climber to grow up the sides of your house or around an outdoor seating area, be aware that it’s likely to become a big part of your life.

Traditional choices for the house are roses or wisteria, while for a patio it’s also roses, plus jasmine. All can be vigorous, so research heights and spread, and prune regularly. Good scented roses include ‘Ophelia’ and ‘Climbing Lady Sylvia’ (pink), and buff-yellow ‘Climbing Paul Lédé’ and ‘Gloire de Dijon’.

Blanket coverage

To prettify and conceal long fencing or large buildings such as a garages, you will need something enthusiastic and (ideally) fast-growing. Options include Passiflora caerulea (H: 40ft/12m), Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ (60ft/18m) and Clematis ‘Mayleen’ (33ft/10m) for flowers, andParthenocissus quinquefolia (50ft/15m) for autumn leaf colour.