Reach for the sky

And for those gardeners who don’t want just the foliage of ivies or the insignificant flowers of cotoneasters, there are numerous colourful climbers which can make the most of an English summer to provide plenty of interest, as well as a good cover-up.

Lonicera (honeysuckle) is, quite simply, a defining summer garden plant. Beautiful flowers, many of which have a fragrance that is so evocative and romantic that it stops you in your tracks and plenty of vigorous, hardy cultivars make this a brilliant plant.

Look out for Lonicera x brownii ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ if you want flowers over a long period in summer.

For a very fragrant variety, Lonicera x americana is ideal.

Campsis, or Trumpet Creeper, is a favourite because it’s vigorous, tolerant of most soils and the trumpet-shaped flowers are real show-stoppers.

Consider Campsis grandiflora, which produces clusters of wonderful trumpets in later summer. They can be dark orange to red.

Campsis radicans produces more slender flowers, again in late summer, and has the added bonus of being self-clinging. This means it will grow up a wall, fence or tree trunk, without any additional support beyond its own sucker pads.

Clematis is a garden classic and it’s easy to see why. Yellow, pink, red, white and blue flowers, all are possibilities. At this time of year, it’s those varieties that flower from summer into autumn that are most interesting.

Clematis ‘Abundance’ is a great choice with its wine-red flowers and light green leaves. ‘Bill MacKenzie’, with its bell-shaped, yellow flowers, is another winner.

Most climbers need to be trained against walls (using trellises), up fences or on other plants (trees, tall shrubs).

Some varieties of Clematis and Lonicera can reach seven metres in height, but there are many half that size and some smaller still.

Campsis can reach up to 10 metres in height.

Moist, well-drained, fertile soil is perfect for any. Work in compost when you plant to help drainage and fertility.

Lonicera and Clematis thrive in sun or partial shade. Campsis prefers full sun against a wall and is not as hardy as clematis.