Training Climbers

[LondonGirl83]

Hi,

I am a novice gardener and have bought three climbers that I hope will entirely cover a 15 ft fence in time.

One is a climbing rose, Madame Alfred C
The other is Clematis Montana Grandiflora (currently 3 long vines
The last is Trachelospermum jasminoides-- its 7 ft tall though only 6 or so vines.

I have no idea how to train the existing long spindly vines of the clematis and Trachelospermum!

Any advice greatly appreciated

Clematis is a clinger, the stems of the leaves will twirl themselves round anything they can find to hang on to. The jasmine is a twiner it will grow round and round anything it can find. Just tie both of hem up up against a trellis or mesh and they will do their own thing.

Horticultural wire tied to eyelet/hook thingies drilled into the fence posts at 12-18 inch intervals will do for almost all climbers. You then tie the climbers in to the horticultural wire with twine as the plants grow.

Okay, we have the horticultural wires up already buy I think I end more horizontal Wires. Also we have no vertical ones so I guess I should add.

Is there a trick to make climbers spread out more vs going entirely vertical?

Thanks so much!

You need to train them all horizontally (or into a fan really) which encourages upward shoots and more flowering.
Have a look here, there is also a video on that page which will show you what you need to do.
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=463

Thanks that is really helpful