Planning a garden makeover sometime this year? Instead of spreading out, think about adding more climbers to your backyard as vertical gardening is going to be a huge trend in 2025. Using vertical space is a great way to make the most of your garden. While most people put up structures to support climbing vegetables like peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers, gardening experts say that planting flowering vines can also help to beautify your outdoors. In an interview with Real Simple, landscape designer Cate Singleton said that vertical gardens “can be used to screen unsightly views and add color to a small space.”
A vertical garden needs a lot of upkeep since it requires planning, the right care, and proper maintenance. They’ll also need to be tied in so they can climb properly, but the effort will be worth it once you see your climbers thrive as they grow towards the sun. Here are some smart strategies to train and support climbing plants and create a gorgeous vertical garden.
Plant Them Correctly
If it’s your first attempt to create a vertical garden, you’ll want to select hardy, fast-growing climbers for your arbor, fence, trellis, or pergola. Some plants are more suitable for certain support structures, so you’ll need to choose correctly to create a lush display in your backyard. Note that some climbers will twine, while others will wrap their stems around structures. To have climbing plants that bloom every year, consider climbing perennials like Hardy Kiwi Vine, Climbing Hydrangea, or Climbing Roses. For fast-growing climbers that are suitable for a pergola, choose honeysuckle or wisteria. If you’re trying to cover a fence with flowers, pick passion flowers or clematis.
Once you’ve chosen your plants, prepare them the right way to encourage them to vine and climb. First, soak the climber’s root ball in water, then dig a hole at least 17 inches from the base of your fence or pergola. Place the climber in the hole, then tilt the root ball in the direction that you want it to grow before covering it with garden soil.
Provide Support
Once your plant starts to grow, don’t leave it to its own devices and allow it to grow willy nilly. You’ll want to provide support for your climber so it doesn’t stray and climb on nearby plants, and you can do that by attaching wires to your fence. See to it that they’re attached horizontally and spaced at least 18 inches apart to give your plants something to grip on. Fasten the wires to the fence using metal cable ties. These are reusable, so you’ll need to be careful when removing them to avoid damaging the ties. To open reusable cable ties, use a flathead screwdriver to release the locking mechanism, then pull them gently away from your fence.
If you’re training your climber to cover a pergola, you’ll need to twine the biggest stem around the base. To help it get a good grip on your pergola, secure the vine with fabric ties, or use strips of thin stretchy fabric to make it easier for the plant to latch onto your structure. Once the stems start to lengthen, gently remove the ties, then observe the plant to see if it’s growing upwards. Eventually, your climber will reach the top of your pergola, and once it gets to that point you’ll want it to form a canopy overhead. Tie the plant horizontally to encourage the vines to crossover and follow the arch of the pergola.
Keep Them Looking Lush and Healthy
Once your climbers have completely covered your support structure, do regular plant maintenance to keep it looking lush and healthy. Twining plants need to be thinned and pruned every three to five years, while plants like trumpet vines and climbing roses will need to be pruned frequently to keep their shape. Doing this trains them to keep clinging to the structure and prevents them from gripping onto nearby plants or tree trunks. Most climbers need to be pruned every spring, so remove all the diseased and broken branches to help them flourish and grow. You can also do some regeneration pruning to encourage new leaf and flower growth if you want your vertical garden to have a fuller look.
Adding climbing plants and vines to your backyard can help you create a beautiful vertical garden and maximize your planting space. Consider these tips to train and support your climbers, and don’t forget to do regular maintenance to keep your plants healthy throughout the year.
Other Recommended Reading
- Container Gardening For Beginners
- Growing Citrus in Containers
- Grow A Vertical Vegetable Garden
- Easy Ways To Create A Mindful Garden From Scratch
- Bringing the Garden Indoors — How to Successfully Incorporate Indoor Plants into Any Living Space
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