Honeysuckle + trellis =

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by Kon, Aug 9, 2019.

  1. Kon

    Kon Gardener

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    I have a little trellis fence in my garden that I would like to train some climbers on. See pic.

    Today I bought three honeysuckle plants, two early Dutch and one similus.

    I've never planted a climber before. I think this will be reasonably easy for a first timer... If I understand correctly, I should plant about 1 foot away from the fence? I've got some garden twine that I'm going to use to tie the honeysuckle vines to the trellis.

    Should I weave the vines in and out of the trellis at this point? Should I aim to place the vines horizontally or at 45° rather than straight up?

    Please let me know if you have any other advice or there's anything I haven't considered...
     

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  2. Jack Sparrow

    Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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    I'm not an expert on the subject but this year I have tried to start off a few climber that so far seem to be doing ok.

    That piece of fence isn't particularly big. I would say that one climber would cover that easily.

    You can either plant your climber in the middle or at one end depending on the effect you were hoping for.

    The way you spread the shoots out depends on how many shoots you have. I just try to fan them out evenly. Side shoots will soon start to grow. Next year, once the plant has settled down you will be able to start shaping a bit. I don't think weaving the vines would help. I think it will be easier to prune and control if the main growth is all on one side. I'm sure that once the plant has matured there will be more than enough foliage to grow through the gaps.

    That is my take on it at any rate. Hopefully somebody else who knows what they are talking about will jump in and bail me out.

    G.
     
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    • ARMANDII

      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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      Hi Kon, well, I'm probably the last one who should give advice on planting Honeysuckle and Clematis as I tend to overplant such as the Trellis entrance to the garden which has a mixture of 30 or more Honeysuckle and Clematis on either side of the trellis entrance.

      upload_2019-8-9_23-13-45.png

      I also have planted a mixture of Honeysuckle and Roses on both sides of my Arbour which are on trellis sides. Honeysuckle are great for being planted against Trellis and planting them a foot away from the fence is fine, but experience will show you that you don't have to be ruled by the rules, but instead be guided by them. Planting and looking after climbers is no different than any other plant except of course for pruning and training of shoots and stems.
      Honeysuckle will, if happy, grow fast and will need training and tieing in, in the directions you want, as you go along. To be honest, and with great respect to Jack, who's advice is spot on, I would plant at least two Honeysuckle and,left to my own experience,I would probably plant 3 to cover any failure of a plant and the resulting growth will cover the trellis much faster and easier.
      If I may be cheeky and offer advice to a, I believe a new gardener, then read the gardening books written by the "experts" but don't take their rules as gospel......why not?, well, Nature hasn't read their books and has it's own rules, which makes gardening so interesting,surprising, and pleasurable.:hapydancsmil::heehee: Oh, lastly, Kon, don't forget to feed it when it is established......but not during the Winter, wait until you see it starting to grow.
       
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      • Verdun

        Verdun Passionate gardener

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        Agree with that analysis from Gary Kon :)

        How wide is it there? 450 cm?

        All the honeysuckles you mention are vigorous and will be heavy so make sure those fences are robust and well founded:)

        I too would plant just one climber there.....middle for me. No need to plant a foot away if soil is free of concrete etc. ...essential if on a wall though. I would dig in plenty of compost when you plant it plus a good organic fertiliser. A generous watering. A thick mulch too. Untie the stems, separate them and space them well apart.....push one or two stems through the trellis and next spring and throughout the summer continue to tie in new stems. Yes, at an angle and not upright. Tie loosely and check ties regularly. By next summer the stems will be woody.

        I would plant a shrub at either end to break up the one dimensional line of planting....camellia, or a conifer like taxus Standishii. However, you could plant compact clematis at either end too if it’s a lot of summer colour you are after:)
         
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        • Verdun

          Verdun Passionate gardener

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          Oops! We crossed there ARMANDII:)
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            Never a problem, Verdun:dunno::heehee:
             
          • Verdun

            Verdun Passionate gardener

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            Ha ha ARMANDII......it’s all part of the fun and jostling of gardening. It’s good to have different viewpoints and to respect all of them :)
             
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            • Kon

              Kon Gardener

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              Thanks so much for all your advice guys! I managed to get the two early Dutch honeysuckles in the ground between the showers. I'll save the other one for somewhere else.

              Will mulch tomorrow :P
               
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                Last edited: Sep 21, 2019
              • Verdun

                Verdun Passionate gardener

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                Enjoy them Kon.....the scent of those honeysuckles will be a delight next summer :)
                 
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                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                  Nicely done, Kon:love30:, just don't forget to feed them, say once a week, next year in Spring and they will repay you with strong growth and flowering.:coffee:
                   
                • ricky101

                  ricky101 Total Gardener

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                  Hi Kon,

                  In your opening post you said you were wanting to cover the trellis, is that all you want to cover as others are really talking about it climbing all along the fence ?

                  To my mind if its just the trellis you are looking to cover they are going to be too vigorous and will need constant pruning and training, which will likely lead to some loss of flowers.

                  If you want them to climb down one or two of the fence panels then thats fine, you can just use some wires and screws and tie them to that.
                   
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                  • Kon

                    Kon Gardener

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                    Thanks! I had the trellis in mind primarily, but would be very happy for them to spread along the fence panels too
                     
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                    • Kon

                      Kon Gardener

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                      Am thinking of a trellis archway as well, with the honeysuckle climbing over it :)
                       
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                      • ARMANDII

                        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                        A great idea, why not mix the Honeysuckle with either Clematis and/or Climbing repear flowering roses.???
                         
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                        • Kon

                          Kon Gardener

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                          @ARMANDII

                          You keep telling me to add more climbers, whereas everyone else is telling me that the two honeysuckles I've planted are too vigorous, and I need to give them more environment to spread out!
                           
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