UK gardening - Clematis trellis design - how big can the gaps be?

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Clematis trellis design - how big can the gaps be?

frankie

2006-01-18, 4:21 pm

We are making a simple rectangular metal frame trellis with wires across
it for a clematis to provide a screen from our neighbours in the summer.
It will sit on top of an existing 1m high fence and will be 1m long and
80 cm high. We want it to be as unobtrusive as possible to minimise its
light blocking to a basement window when the clematis dies back in
winter so we want to have the wires as far apart as possible.
Questions:

How far apart can they be to still have the Clematis grow up the
structure?

Is it possible to just have horizontal wires?

The wire we intend using is 10mm (o.4 inches) thick - is this too thick
for the tendrils to grab onto?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

--
frankie

Nick Maclaren

2006-01-19, 6:21 am

In article <frankie.21ujk0@gardenbanter.co.uk>,
frankie <frankie.21ujk0@gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote:
>
>We are making a simple rectangular metal frame trellis with wires across
>it for a clematis to provide a screen from our neighbours in the summer.
>It will sit on top of an existing 1m high fence and will be 1m long and
>80 cm high. We want it to be as unobtrusive as possible to minimise its
>light blocking to a basement window when the clematis dies back in
>winter so we want to have the wires as far apart as possible.
>Questions:
>
>How far apart can they be to still have the Clematis grow up the
>structure?

A couple of metres. I would recommend using 20-30 cm squares; 10-15
is better for a screen, but you want light in winter.

>Is it possible to just have horizontal wires?

Yes, but it is geneally a bad idea. A good one is diamonds (i.e.
squares aligned diagonally), because that catches the eye less.

>The wire we intend using is 10mm (o.4 inches) thick - is this too thick
>for the tendrils to grab onto?

No, but that is rod, not wire! Surely 5 mm would be heavy enough, unless
you are trying to fortify the area.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

La Puce

2006-01-19, 7:21 am

Nick Maclaren wrote:
> A couple of metres. I would recommend using 20-30 cm squares; 10-15
> is better for a screen, but you want light in winter.

Really?! A couple of metres?! Surely the clematis cannot reach from one
point to 2m away with nothing in between to climb on?

> No, but that is rod, not wire! Surely 5 mm would be heavy enough, unless
> you are trying to fortify the area.

:o) This conjured up an amazing trellis, with copper pipes for some
reason!

But perhaps he could put some wires in between the rods? You've
completely destroy his design !!

Nick Maclaren

2006-01-19, 8:21 am

In article <1137669165.225373.229130@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
"La Puce" <helene@rudlin.co.uk> writes:
|> Nick Maclaren wrote:
|> > >How far apart can they be to still have the Clematis grow up the
|> > >structure?
|> > A couple of metres. I would recommend using 20-30 cm squares; 10-15
|> > is better for a screen, but you want light in winter.
|>
|> Really?! A couple of metres?! Surely the clematis cannot reach from one
|> point to 2m away with nothing in between to climb on?

No, but they go up the verticals and then along the horizontals.
C. armandii would be able to handle that, for example, though
some other clematis would not.

|> But perhaps he could put some wires in between the rods? You've
|> completely destroy his design !!

Yes.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

La Puce

2006-01-19, 9:21 am

Nick Maclaren wrote:
> No, but they go up the verticals and then along the horizontals.
> C. armandii would be able to handle that, for example, though
> some other clematis would not.

Sure ... forgot the verticals.

> |> But perhaps he could put some wires in between the rods? You've
> |> completely destroy his design !!
>
> Yes.

Ok. Best be robbust really. Hardy, would be a better word :o)

Charlie Pridham

2006-01-19, 3:21 pm

"frankie" <frankie.21ujk0@gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:frankie.21ujk0@gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> We are making a simple rectangular metal frame trellis with wires across
> it for a clematis to provide a screen from our neighbours in the summer.
> It will sit on top of an existing 1m high fence and will be 1m long and
> 80 cm high. We want it to be as unobtrusive as possible to minimise its
> light blocking to a basement window when the clematis dies back in
> winter so we want to have the wires as far apart as possible.
> Questions:
>
> How far apart can they be to still have the Clematis grow up the
> structure?
>
> Is it possible to just have horizontal wires?
>
> The wire we intend using is 10mm (o.4 inches) thick - is this too thick
> for the tendrils to grab onto?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice...
>
>
> --
> frankie
You do need the wire in both directions, anything smaller than finger size
is ok, and the squares should ideally be 6" or less. (I occasionally use
stock fencing but prefer the large gauge chicken wire)
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

frankie

2006-01-24, 4:21 pm

Thanks to all for the advice: very helpful and very kind. I think I
will take Nick and Charlie's advice and go for diagonal boxes spaced
about 20 cm apart with wire much thinner at around 3-5mm. I'll let you
all know how it goes...

Thanks again to all

Frankie

--
frankie

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