Please suggest trouble-free climber for novice gardener.

Hi.

After a couple of years of problems with mildew, last year my honeysuckle looked quite good. However, this year the mildew is as bad as ever and has resulted in a lot of dead, brown leaves and bare patches where the fence can be seen.

I've decided to dig it up and replace it with something less troublesome.

I'd be grateful for advice on choosing an easy to care for climber for a west facing 6 foot fence . Would jasmine be a good choice?

Thank you.

 

Two teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed into five litres of water and spray the foliage once every ten days or so in dry spells. Sorted!

 

Thank you but it's been dug up now.

 

Oh well.............

Jasmine is pretty high maintenance as it is so rampant. You're in London so you could push the limits a bit. Maybe Campsis and one of the more borderline Passiflora (@pete ?), or a mix of both.
If you are just looking to hide the fence what about a peach (or apricot even) tree trained in an espalier fashion. Takes a little effort but once established not too bad.

 

Sorry to jump in, @cucumber, but i have a question for dear @wiseowl, while he is on the subject of roses. @wiseowl, i am thinking of putting in a rose. The spot is west facing, against a fence, and my priorities are strong scent and repeat flowering. I would like it to spread moderately so a climber or rambler is what I'm thinking. I'm in the west of Scotland so will need a toughie for the wet weather and winters. Is there anything you would recommend? I'm pretty new to roses but the 3 i have are still alive!

 

Thank you, @wiseowl. I knew you would have something lovely to suggest. That is a beautiful rose and almost exactly what i am looking for. Colour is not too important, except i am not a fan of red roses. On looking up the Albrighton Rambler its only flaw for my purposes is that it has a light scent. If possible i would like something with a stronger scent. It looks so lovely, though, that i might compromise there!

 

Not all honeysuckles are the same or all suffer from same problems.

Do the research....Serotina, for example, is a martyr to mildew so dont grow this one in hot, dry situations. I wouldnt be surprised if cucumber's mildew-hit honeysuckle was indeed Serotina...??

Whatever climber you choose, cucumber, refine your search as to suitability, susceptibility to diseases, etc. and what conditions are needed for its success. It's what I do now...plants are esp expensive if they are given conditions they dislike.

Yes, cucumber, I think jasmine would grow well on your west facing fence Again, there are different varieties, some with good variegated foliage. The summer flowering Officionalis is a good choice...easy, fragrant, size-controllable and tough

 

Thanks ever so much for all your help. Now for the research...

 

Thanks for saying thanks cucumber...appreciated. Good luck