Using permanent planting to define your garden
Shrubs, trees and climbers can transform your environment just as much as hard landscaping – and your choices will have a massive impact on the environment. A garden is its own ecosystem, and the healthiest environment is diverse and contains a variety of species. I’ve already talked about the wonder of trees and why we should put more thought into planting them.
Climbers
Climbers fall into two groups: self-supporting and those that need support. Many people feel self-supporting varieties, such as ivy or Virginia creeper, will damage the masonry and avoid them. That’s a shame, as ivy provides an amazing environment for a host of creatures. It only flowers when growing upright, in September and October, providing vital late-season food for insects, including Red Admiral butterflies.
In winter, black berries ripen, a favourite with thrushes, waxwings, starlings, finches and blackbirds – there’s not much else around at that time of year. Climbers that need support allow you to create structure in your beds and borders with obelisks, or trompe d’oeil panels on walls – see my tall plants section for more on this.
Shrubs, trees, and climbers – Go exotic
Quick-growing climbers can also cover an eyesore in a single season – see my tender climbers, grown from seed and capable of covering a 10ft span. If you need something more permanent, check out my top 10 hardy climbers, from the spring glory of Clematis montana to the lime-yellow of the golden hop, which looks tremendous against a black wall.
Lastly, don’t forget sweet peas – most regular varieties reach 6ft – what better way to provide a focal point or hide an eyesore with something so beautifully perfumed?
Shrubs, trees, and climbers – Get a shrubbery!
Shrubs are perennials with a woody structure which remains throughout winter. They can be deciduous or evergreen, and the line often blurs between large shrubs and small trees. The great thing about shrubs is that, like trees, they provide a framework for your garden.
For winter structure, think about evergreens like holly or pyracantha, or colourful stems like dogwood, especially effective against a covering of snow. Unlike the often dull shrubberies of the 1970s, modern gardens use shrubs in many settings, such as a mixed border. On a more formal note, think of clipped topiary or edging hedges like box.
