Wall-Climbers Need Not Cause Trouble

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 6

Wall-Climbers Need Not Cause Trouble

There is a general prejudice against climbing plants on the walls of a house. They are claimed to make the painting difficult. They become rampant and cause interference to gutters and dowiipipes and they are said to keep out light from the windows. If proper support is given and a suitable climber planted, none of these troubles need occur. In general, too rampant climbers are chosen and little or no support is given. Climbers fall into two main types. One, such as ivy, has roots which stick to the support. These are suited only to brick walls. The other group climbs by twining—the main stems twine, the leaf stalks twine or tendrils develop. This group needs support. Support can . consist of parallel wires spaced 9 to 12 inches apart. Brace the wires to stand 6 to 9 inches from the wall so that you can get behind them when necessary.

An alternative is to make a wooden frame to fit the position the climber will occupy. Use stout wood that has been tanalised or painted. Cyclone wire or reinforcing wire can be stretched over the frame to provide a mesh of wires. The frames can then be fixed to the wall. Hinges at the base or sides.will allow them to be swung away from the wall, together with the climbers, when painting is necessary. Preparatory Work The soil against the walls of a house is often poor and very dry. Dig it over and incorporate as much organic matter as possible. Before planting, soak the soil with water so it is moist to a depth of at least 18 inches.

Climbers should be planted in late winter or early spring, except for tender plants, which should not be planted until the danger of frost has passed. Climbers are sold as con-tainer-grown and it is im-. portant that they are firmly planted. Do not plant against the wall, but some distance from it. Insert a stake by the plant and take it up to the support In the early part of the growing season the young growths may need to be tied to train in the desired direction. Once

established they will grow away readily and support themselves. A border at the base of a wall receives very little direct rain and it would be advisable to apply water during the first summer until the plants are fully established. When watering ensure that the water penetrates well into the soil and does not moisten only the top inch or two.' Choice of Plants Each wall of the house offers different conditions for plants. The north wall is the hottest in summer, warmest in winter and also the driest. This should be reserved for tender plants and for those which require hot, dry conditions. The south wall, which is in shade for most of the time, is cool and does not dry out much, should be reserved for plants that are shade lovers and do not like as dry soil conditions.

The east wall receives most sun in the mornings and none of the. hot afternoon sun. It is not the best position for early flowering plants because flowers that are frozen are damaged- by rapid thawing in the early morning sunshine. -West walls are hotter than east walls because they receive most of the hot afternoon sun and are exposed to more drying for nor’ westers in the summer.

When choosing plants these conditions should be borne in mind. Of utmost importance is the selection of plants suitable for the space they are to occupy. Avoid planting vigorous climbers in restricted spaces. Take into account the colour of the wall so that there is no clashing of colours.

The following are some climbers suitable for plant ing against the walls of a house. Vigorous ones such as Wisteria Virginian creeper and ivy are omitted, and so are many of the common ones such as clematis and the trumpet vine, campsis. Sollya heterophylla (Bluebell creeper): Comes from Australia and is only a moderately strong twiner. It is an evergreen and produces its bell-shaped, bright blue flowers throughout most of the summer. In. warm climate these may be followed by purple berries. It is suited to a west wall. Lonicera hildebrandtiana (Giant Burmese honey-

suckle) : This climber, although tender, can be grown successfully against a north ■ wall. It is evergreen and is certainly the most spectacular of all honeysuckles. It is vigorous in warm .climates but is unlikely to be troublesome' on the flat in Canterbury. Its flowers are narrow and tubular often reaching seven inches in length. These fragrant flowers are yellow when they open and turn orange or red as they age. Thimbergia gibsonii (Golden Glory creeper): Is a-weak to moderate growing twiner. It is more suited to wanner areas but is quite at- home on a north wall. It is evergreen but may lose its leaves in a cold'winter or even be frosted down to ground level. It will break away again in the spring. Its trumpet-like flowers are an intense, pure orange. Wattakaka sinenis is sometimes called the hardy hoya because of the similarity of flowers. A moderately vigorous deciduous twiner, it is suited either to the east or west wall. Flowers are produced in cluster in December and January and are faintly fragrant. Berberidopsis corallina (Coral Vine of Chile) is a climber or, more correctly, a sprawler, for the south wall. It requires a moist, acid soil enriched with peat or leaf mould. Blood-red flowers are produced in clusters. Billardieria longlflora (climbing blueberry): Comes from Tasmania, is evergreen and a moderately vigorous twiner. It is suited to a south or east wall. Flowers are pendulous, greenish or creamy yellow, and produced during the spring. These are not, however, the most spectacular for this climber is grown for the beauty of its fruits which are more or less rectangular in shape and blue or purplish-blue in colour. Lapageria rosea (Chilean Bellflower) is probably the most beautiful of all climbing plants. Like some other uncommon plants it is easy to grow and needs a cbol, moist, lime-free soil and protection from the sun. It should be grown along the south wall of the house. It is a twining evergreen with few leaves and is only moderately vigorous. It belongs to the lily family and its flowers have thick waxy petals. The bright red flowers resemble the lily.