GARDENING WITH CLIMBERS

By ARUN PRATAP SINGH

Climbers are as essential part of a garden as are the trees or shrubs. In fact, they deserve place even in a small garden as their growth is more vertical than horizontal. They add height, colour and texture to any garden and the flowering types particularly make great addition to any garden with a fence, trellis, wall or pergolas for them to clamber over.Climbers are a good way to cover walls and fences with flowers and foliage. But they aren't all demure clingers. Some are whopping great monsters as they spread so quickly spreading all over. In a small garden, one must make sure to choose the right type of the climber.Climbers are plants that either have some means of supporting themselves or need external support to reach greater heights for sunlight and air. They have either tendrils, curling leafstalks or adventitious roots which they use for support. The climbers that do not have any inbuilt system to support themselves are actually twiners from a botanist’s perspective. They just twine or coil around the support, even cover it and reach the top. In addition, some shrubs that climb are also called commonly called climbers.They add beauty, colour in a striking way or fragrance in gardens. They are also used to screen or decorate artificial structures like walls, pergolas, pillars, cascades, trellis or arbours and topiary, etc. Climbers from a gardener’s view are of two types, annual and perennial ones. Morning Glory, Sweet Pea, Nasturtium and Convolvulus are common annual types while Bignonia purpurea, Pyrostegia venusta (Also known as Bignonia venusta, incorrectly though), Allamanda, Ivy, Lonicera (Honey Suckle), Quisqualis indica (Rangoon Creeper), Bougainvillea are more common in Uttarakhand and other parts of North India. In the hills, Wisteria, Clematis, Clerodendron and Nasturtium, Ivy and Campsis are more common.

PLANTING THE CLIMBERS: Generally, Monsoon months are suitable for planting most plants and trees. With the exception of deciduous plants, almost everything can be planted during the spring and monsoon months. In the hills, however, it is better to plant during early monsoon because by September, it starts to get colder at nights, so the planting operation should be carried out by August end. Also it should be remembered that so many of the trees, shrubs or the climbers in the hills are deciduous and should be planted during the winter months when they are dormant. Soil: Most of the climbers prefer a soil having good drainage. For smaller shrubs or climbers, three ft wide pits and two ft deep pits should be dug up. The soil should be well mixed with 5 to 10 kgs of cattle dung manure, 30 gms of Sterilised Bone Meal, half kg of Neem Cake and 10 gms of some soil insecticide like Fenvalerate or Chlorpyriphos dust to check the attack of termites. This dusting must immediately be followed by watering to settle down the soil. If the soil is not having good drainage, then it is important to improve the soil by adding bulky organic matter and large amounts of coarse sand after digging the entire soil up to a depth of four to six ft. This is however not an easy operation.

SELECTION OF CLIMBERS

There are different situations in any garden like sunny, partial shade or shade. In addition, the purpose of planting the climber in any particular situation is also an important factor in deciding a suitable climber. For Sunny situations: Pyrostegia venusta (Orange flowers-Commonly called Bignonia Venusta), Bignonia purpurea, Quisqualis indica (Rangoon Creeper of Jhumka Bel-Flowers white changing to pink and then red), Antigonun leptopus (Coral Vine-Rose pink flowers), Adenocalyma (Pink, mauve or yellow), Bougainvillea sp., Campsis grandiflora (Orange), Allamanda sp.(Yellow flowers), Bauhinia sp. (Yellowish white) and Thunbergia. For Partial shade: Clerodendron splendens, (White flowers with red beads) Petrea volubilis (Purple wreath-purple flowers), Lonicera japonica (Honey Suckle-White flowers tinged with mauve), Tecomella capensis (Orange trumpet like flowers), Trachelospermum jasminoides (White star like flowers- Commonly called as Star jasmine), Asparagus plumosa, Ficus pumila, Hedera helix, Scindapsus aureus, Philodendron, Monstera deliciosa, Pothos (Money plant) and Synogonium spp. (Foliage Climbers).For Fragrance: Jasminum grandiflorum (Shahi Chameli-Fragrant White flowers), Jasmine officinale (Spanish jasmine), Trachelospermum jasminoides, Hiptage benghalensis (Madhavi lata), Clematis (many coloured flowers suitable for the Hills and Doon Valley only), Lonicera japonica (Honey Suckle), Stephanotis floribunda (White flowers suitable for hills, Wisteria sinensis (purple flowers- suitable for hills), Passiflora cerulea (Passion Flower-purple or red Flowers).Heavy Climbers: They produce luxuriant vegetative growth and grow vigorously. They cover a large area and are suitable for covering big walls or terraces. They are required to be pruned to keep them in bounds. The time and method of pruning varies from species to species. Some common heavy climbers are Antigonon leptopus (Coral vine), Bignonia magnifica, Beaumontia grandiflora (Nepal Trumpet- big bell shaped flowers in March- April) , Bougainvillea sp. Hiptage benghalensis, Quisqualis indica (Rangoon creeper), Jasminum spp., Wisteria sinensis, Pyrostegia venusta, Thungbergia grandiflora, and Clerodendron splendens.Light Climbers: They are such climbers that do not grow very vigorously and do not require regular or severe pruning. Some common ones are Allamanda spp., Asparagus plumosa, Bignonia purpurea, Gloriosa superba, Lonicera japonica, Clematis flammula. Tecomeria capensis.Deciduous Climbers: Deciduous climbers shed their leaves during winter. Some common ones are Antigonon leptopus, Campsis grandiflora, Campsis radicans, Cissus discolour, Clematis sp. Pyrostegia venusta, Jasminum officinale.Flowering in several flushes during the year: Adenocalymma allicea (pink Mauve or yellow flowers), Ipomea palmate (Railway creeper), Jacquemontia violacea (purple), Perugularia odoratissima, Rosa spp.(Climbing Rose), Thungbergia grandiflora, Vallaris heynelli and Trachelosprmum jasminoides.

CLIMBERS FOR THE HILLS: Aristolochia macrophylla, Caesalpinia sepiaria, Campsis grandiflora, Clematis flammula, Hedera helix, Lonicera, Trachelospermum Jasminoides, Rosa spp. Wisteria venusta, Stephanotis, Thungbergia alata. In the hills, it is common to see climbing roses too though they are the shrubs that climb. Their care is also similar to that of shrub roses. Climbers for pots: Bougainvillea, Thungbergia alata (Susan’s Black Eye), Gloriosa, Clitoria ternatea, Pothos, Philodendron, Syngonium, Ivy (Hedera) and Boston Ivy. In large pots, Alamanda, Clematis can also grow. Annual climbers can easily grow in large pots. Grapes are also grown in pots in some smaller gardens.Annual Climbers: They are seasonal plants and can be grown temporarily in the garden. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus), Trailing Nasturtium, Convolvulus, Ipomea lobata, and Clitoria ternatea are commonly grown annual climbers.Climbers for Indoors: Some shade loving climbers like Pothos (Money Plant), Philodendron, Monstera deliciosa, Asparagus can be easily grown in post and even kept indoors. Climbers For hedge: Clerodendron inerme and Bougainvillea make good hedges. Fruit Vines: Grapes can also be grown as climber in home gardens. In addition, seasonal vegetables like Cucumber may also be grown.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

After planting the climbers, it may become necessary to train in the first year to have the desired design or growth effect. After planting, regular watering, hoeing, and weeding are necessary to reduce the mortality rate.

Pruning: Deciduous climbers are usually pruned during winter months. While some are pruned in the rainy season, others are pruned just after the flowering. Beaumontia grandiflora and Congea tomentosa can stand severe pruning during the rains. Antigonon is quick growing and flowers for seven to eight months in a year. This should be pruned at least twice every year in March and then September. Thungbergia is pruned after flowering is over.Petrea volubilis does not like heavy pruning. Clerodendron splendens flowers in winter and should be pruned in July. Quisqualis indica requires thorough cleaning and regular pruning. It is pruned low during the winters. Clematis is pruned low during the rains. Allamanda should be pruned in spring just before the flowering season.