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Gardening in the UK

What to grow up pergola posts

9 years ago

Ive just finished building a pergola and I now want to grow a rambling rose up each post and have them creep along the cross beam

On asking around it was suggested that I should grow a climbing rose as well as a rambler up each post, I don't understand this? The patio is approx 8x8 meters

My original intention had been to grow the ramblers and also some evergreen climbers up each post. I'd appreciate your advice. The patio is south facing but only gets the sun in early afternoon because of some large trees

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User
9 years ago
Very nice, and I rather like the paving you have too, even though I can see it's not quite finished yet...

I expect you were advised to grow climbing roses as well as ramblers as, in the main, rambling roses tend to flower just once, during June/early July. Climbing roses tend to repeat bloom throughout the summer therefore giving you more interest. However, you can get repeat flowering ramblers, and some climbing roses that don't repeat terribly well. Do a bit of research on that and choose the colours that you like.

You can grow an evergreen climber or two, but I prefer deciduous myself, as too much evergreen can make it look overgrown all year... and I'm not keen on that, but it's personal choice...

A couple of evergreen climbers you might like, that I also like, are Lonicera japonica 'Halliana', and Trachelospermum jasminoides. Don't be put off by the long names. the first is a honeysuckle, the second is a twining climber with a jasmine like scent, that is good if you live in the south of England, might not be suitable up north...

I do not recommend Jasminum officinale.

This is 'Trach. jas.' on some trellis here, it will take several years to

reach the top of your pergola.

You might like some Clematis too. This is 'Etoile Violette' which is very vigorous and reliable but will need tying in to the post but that's easy to do...
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