Gardener's World with Paraic Horkan NDH

Covering with climbers.

Climbers are suitable for all gardens and vary between evergreen, flowering and self-clinging plants ideal for covering bare or unsightly walls or fencing.
April is an ideal month to select and plant both foliage and flowering climbers.
Climbers offer a softer option and in general are maintaince free. Now is the ideal time to start planting new climbers for fast establishment before summer.

Some of the best.

The choice of available plants suitable as climbers is added to every year with new and improved varieties but many of the older varieties are still very useful.

One of my own favourites is Fremontodendron California a semi-evergreen wall shrub ideal for covering large sheltered walls. The bright yellow waxy flowers form in early June and flower through to late summer. The foliage is large and covered in down.
A super wall plant for a sunny sheltered location. The side branches are tied in throughout the summer and there is little need for pruning.

In flower at the moment are the beautiful evergreen camellias, which are generally associated with large woodland shrubs.

Camellias produce their large rose like flowers from mid February to late April with new flowers opening every week.
Camellias are ideal as wall plants with their flexible stems choose a young plant and tie in the side branches to a strong support.

Regular feeding throughout the summer with mir acid will ensure lots of flower colour in spring. Camellias can be grown in containers if a large tub is selected and the plants are adequately watered and fed throughout the season.

For good foliage colour consider planting the evergreen ivies including gold heart, sulphur heart or canariensis which are self clinging with all year round foliage colour and ideal for mixed planting with free flowering summer clematis.

Vitas cognitea has beautiful large green foliage, fast growing stems cover large areas quickly. The foliage turns deep scarlet and reds throughout autumn.
Vitas is suitable for large wall areas or tree stumps where quick growth and cover is important.

Pyracantha or firethorn is a very popular wall shrub. Strong growth with evergreen foliage covered in may with white flowers and super bunches of berries from mid September.
Pyracantha is hardy and very easy to grow tolerating all soil types and berrying as young plants. Look for the French varieties, which are prolific croppers of very large berries on young plants.

Horkys tip: Plant summer flowering clematis at the base of your establish Pyracantha to give lots of summer colour the clematis can be cut back hard in October to reveal the bunches of red berries.

Clematis.

The most popular of all the flowering climbers and rightly so. Clematis produces an abundance of flower colour in spring; summer and autumn depending on the variety you plant.
Customers often find clematis difficult to establish.
Remember clematis need good soil preparation and the addition of composted organic matter is essential. Summer flowering varieties should be planted eight inches deeper than the existing root ball.
If you continue to experience difficulty growing clematis try the easier spring flowering clematis Montana Rubens or the mid summer clematis viticella varieties.
Clematis requires regular feeding throughout the summer and water during dry periods.
They can be planted through existing larger shrubs or hedges for added colour.

Summer flowering honey suckles are always a good choice. The beautiful sweet scent is carried from July to late September.
Honeysuckle grows and establishes very quickly and is ideal for all soil types.

Horkys tip: Plant summer flowering climbing roses now including the beautiful scented patio climbers which are ideal for all sized gardens and perform well even in their first year with repeat flowers and super sweet scent. Patio climbers are ideal for growing out of containers.

When possible empty the contents of the compost bin to allow air to circulate around and through the material. Simply empty the bin and shovel the contents back in if this is carried out on a regular basis you will have beneficial garden compost in no time.

This Week’s Job.

• Continue to plant vegetable plants every two weeks for succession cropping throughout the summer plant lettuce, broccoli, sprouts, parsley, cabbage, and onions. All are now available in strong plant form.
• Plant maincrop potatoes including roosters, records, kerrs pinks, and golden wonders for a good crop in late summer.
• Plant summer flowering roses now for colour from June onwards. Feed existing roses with top rose and spray with rose clear every two weeks.
• Plant coronet dwarf apple trees for apples this season, strawberries and rhubarb can also be planted.
• Feed all trees, flowering shrubs and hedges now with tree and shrub fertiliser for a stronger start to the season.
• Kill existing lawn moss and weeds with an application of renovator three in one dressing suitable for all lawns.

Remember Horkans Garden Centres in Sligo and Castlebar are open seven days Sunday 2 to 6pm. horky@iol.ie

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