Climbers and Wall Plants: A Practical Guide (Gardening Series)

A constant challenge for the gardeners of the National Trust is to provide a continuing display of color throughout the visiting season. Climbing plants are their invaluable secret asset. At Barrington Court in Somerset, the early-blossoming espaliered fruit trees in the Kitchen Garden are supplemented by sweet peas trained up wigwam frames, and at Nymans in Sussex, an explosion of summer roses follows hard on the heels of spring displays. But how do they keep these gregarious plants under control? Drawing on interviews with ten of the National Trust's head gardeners, horticulturist Sue Spielberg offers an excellent practical guide. Climbers and Wall Plants abounds with advice from the professionals, including tips on pruning, training climbers to create fragrant pathways, and discovering combinations of plants that will keep a garden in flower.