I've seen several pictures from Houzz and I think I like a relatively informal formal designs. Or relatively formal informal designs. Hope I'm making any sense. These are pictures I like and dislike, for example. LIKE the following pictures: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/garden-design-traditional-landscape-chicago-phvw-vp~988515) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Chicago Landscape Architect Denise Dering Design [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/north-arlington-residence-traditional-landscape-dc-metro-phvw-vp~1325555) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Dc Metro Landscape Architect Katia Goffin - Principal Designer [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/lavender-mediterranean-landscape-san-francisco-phvw-vp~74304) [Mediterranean Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mediterranean-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2109) by San Francisco Landscape Architect Huettl Landscape Architecture [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/montclair-nj-traditional-landscape-new-york-phvw-vp~624861) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by New York Design-build Landscape Techniques Inc [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/beyond-the-gates-traditional-landscape-houston-phvw-vp~441427) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Houston Landscape Architect L3 Designs [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/front-yard-planting-design-traditional-landscape-new-york-phvw-vp~307252) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by New York Landscape Architect Summerset Gardens/Joe Weuste [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/entry-gate-traditional-landscape-san-francisco-phvw-vp~127532) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by San Francisco Landscape Architect Keith Willig Landscape Services, Inc. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/randy-thueme-design-inc-traditional-landscape-san-francisco-phvw-vp~458790) [Eclectic Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2104) by San Francisco Landscape Architect Randy Thueme Design Inc. - Landscape Architecture [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/just-a-fabulous-place-to-call-home-traditional-landscape-chicago-phvw-vp~2259081) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Chicago Landscape Architect Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/exterior-traditional-landscape-new-york-phvw-vp~1457113) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by New York Design-build TR Building & Remodeling Inc. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/north-arlington-residence-traditional-landscape-dc-metro-phvw-vp~1325547) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Dc Metro Landscape Architect Katia Goffin - Principal Designer DISLIKE the following pictures: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/garden-design-in-greece-on-the-island-of-paros-mediterranean-landscape-amsterdam-phvw-vp~26097) [Mediterranean Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mediterranean-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2109) by Amsterdam Landscape Architect Carolyn Chadwick [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/concrete-garden-steps-contemporary-landscape-san-francisco-phvw-vp~77002) [Contemporary Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2103) by San Francisco Landscape Architect Huettl Landscape Architecture [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/remick-contemporary-landscape-san-francisco-phvw-vp~54229) [Modern Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2105) by San Francisco Landscape Architect Huettl Landscape Architecture [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/debora-carl-landscape-design-contemporary-landscape-san-diego-phvw-vp~129196) [Contemporary Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2103) by San Diego Landscape Architect debora carl landscape design [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/woodvalley-residence-contemporary-landscape-vancouver-phvw-vp~368016) [Contemporary Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2103) by Vancouver Interior Designer Gaile Guevara [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/grass-terraces-contemporary-landscape-san-francisco-phvw-vp~66024) [Contemporary Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2103) by San Francisco Landscape Architect Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/historic-landscape-design-wilmette-illinois-victorian-landscape-chicago-phvw-vp~700695) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Chicago Landscape Architect Schmechtig Landscapes [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/italian-french-parterre-garden-traditional-landscape-los-angeles-phvw-vp~424076) [Traditional Landscape design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Los Angeles Landscape Architect Lenkin Design Inc: Landscape and Garden Design

Last spring I planted blue Betty Corning near my arbor to climb with my apricot Westerland climbing rose. I chose Betty Corning because her blooms are bell shaped and will be effective when viewed from below (inside the arbor). She also adds fragrance. BC is type 3. There are many clematis fiends posting on the Rose Forum. If you ask this question there, you will get many responses. Betty Corning was suggested by one of the blatant enablers there.

Vinny, you are right, montanas bloom in the spring. Also depending on how cold it can get there they could be iffy if you have a serious cold snap. On the up side they certainly do provide leaf shade all summer long once they get their growth. The thing to think about - how easy is it going to be to do some trimming back on the roof. Can you reach it? While montanas are certainly not trimmed back every year they do eventually need the dead undergrowth thinned out. Another one to consider is a white summer bloomer called Paul Farges. It is a type 3 and needs to be trimmed back every year. Most people trim it to the ground. I am training it horizonally down a six foot fence. I leave the horzontal woody stems in place and the new growth sprouts from them. The woody stems are about 15 ft long now and I am added more permanent length each year. The stems are starting to look like and get thick like woody grape vine stems. Another thing to consider is maybe planting another evergreen vine and then letting clematis run through it. I have white jasmine running up the posts of my front pergola and then type 2's and type 3's grow up through that. The downside is the jasmine takes years to grow. Katie

it depends on the type of groundcover. Some are very aggressive and will spread rampantly - others are very tame :-) I can't see clearly what it is you are growing but most mat-like groundcovers are not the slightest bit aggressive. I wouldn't worry. They are also less effective at controlling weeds. And any groundcover will do nothing for the horsetails (which I don't see in your photos, btw). Nothing will stop them.