Ask John Negus
What can I grow to cover a trellis?
Q What strong, wildlife-friendly climber can you recommend for a trellis erected up and over patio area?
Will Markby, Chelmsford, Essex
A This sounds like an excellent project to get on with this spring, but there are a couple of things to bear in mind before you start planting.
Which way does the trellis face? Will the plants be in the sun or shade for the first couple of years until they get high enough to scramble over the top? This does affect the choice of plants.
Second, what is the soil like, and how big is the planting area? Is it a small pocket at the base of the posts in the lee of the trellis that might end up quite dry, or a large bed where the roots can spread and access water further away from the trellis?
Ivy is very good for insects (food and shelter) and vigorous once established, but it can seem slow in its first year. However, it is putting down roots and once it has a strong source of food and water it will be off.
Plants for a sunny spot include clematis, roses, honeysuckle, jasmine, wisteria, passion flower and solanum.
Plants for a moist shady spot are chocolate), (you may need to plant two to get the best fruits), ivy, , Boston ivy, and (Japanese honeysuckle).
