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So today I planted 4 posts !!!! Tomorrow I will build the seat and trellis bits.

Wondering what to plant to climb over it and either side. My shopping policy for a while has been only stuff you can eat, or native/good for wildlife, but not had a project like this to consider.

Any suggestions on what to plant over it ? a fairly open position, seen from house, I am thinking something that will smell nice, look good for a long season, give good coverage [not necessarily year round] and interest, and of course beneficial to wildlife.

Will probably do lots of sweet peas this year for quick impact, or maybe something else ?

Thanks

Sarah

I'll volunteer a loganberry. Pretty flowers, plush red fruits over a long period, flowers and fruit together. Nice big green leaves for a long season. It's not evergreen but perhaps a winter flowering clematis with it? Something for the bees and insects (which in turn helps your kitchen garden).

Zoe

Great choice,I'd also intertwine various climbing annuals (HHPs) and runners of course,painted lady is areally colourful variety, BW

Honeysuckle?

Roses always look lovely.

We also grow chocolate vines which grow really quickly, at this time of year they have pretty little purplish flowers which have a heady scent of yes CHOCOLATE. Each year we have at least one blackbird making its nest in it.

Sue

Aww, chocolate vine ? no way !!!! my car wears a bumper sticker "Life is short, Eat chocolate"

So I was thinking Loganberry, honey suckle and maybe jasmine on nearby random tall fence post. now I have to figure it all out again !

Any suggestions for what to plant under the seat ? apart from a few scrounged up paving slabs.

How about runner beans over the top, 3 different varieties with scarlet, pink & white flowers ?
Underneath the seat would be a good place to grow mint, or thyme if it gets some sun.

What about a grape vine? Or trained fruit trees - pears are often used to make arches.

Do loganberries have spikes? I'm not sure anything thorny would be a good idea.

Green Aura wrote:Do loganberries have spikes?

Some do and some don't Maggie.
I had one that had vicious small thorns which one year threw up a single spine free stem, which I layered and now have a smooth stemmed Loganberry.
Some day it will probably revert to it's spiky version.

How about hops?

phil55494 wrote:How about hops?

They'd be great but you might want to fall asleep every time you sat down!

Kiwi fruit!

Mashua is a pretty climber.
Very easy to grow,tasty and highly unusual looking stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashua