Trellises & Topiaries

Corral Climbing Plants with Trellises & Topiaries
Climbing plants add a unique touch to any growing space, whether it's a flowerbed, patio urn, or even a vegetable garden. Before you start planting, though, first consider what kind of support structure your climbers will need. Here are a few tips for choosing the right trellises & topiaries for your garden.

What Kind of Climbers?
Plants use different techniques to climb. Some, like sweet peas, wrap tiny tendrils around their supports; these climbers would more easily grasp a wire obelisk than a vast lattice. Climbing roses, on the other hand, can't truly climb on their own and require more substantial support. A trellis with plenty of cross-pieces will work best for them. Still, other plants, like honeysuckle, fall somewhere in between. They use their entire stems to twine their way up supports, making for very secure attachments. Twining plants work especially well with arbors, gazebos, and other large supports because they quickly overrun smaller trellises.

Annuals vs. Perennials
If you're planting perennial climbers like roses or wisteria, you'll want to make sure you choose a sizeable and sturdy structure that will stand up to years out in the elements. Wrought iron works particularly well for perennials since it will not bend under their weight or degrade like wooden trellises. Perennial climbers will also need regular pruning, so choose a topiary cage or garden obelisk that will allow you to access them from all sides. Annual climbers like black-eyed Susan vine and morning glories are much lighter, so more decorative trellises & topiaries are a perfect choice.

Keep to a Theme
When planning your gardens, it's always best to have an idea of your overall design in mind. For example, if you're working in a small space, choose several small climbing features, or a single large topiary to keep from overwhelming your other plantings. Opt for support structures that complement one another in shape, color, or material to maintain the look cohesive throughout your space, and carry that theme on to include other elements of your garden as well, such as fencing and ornaments.