fran m's Journal

hi fran if there is enough space between the hedge and the climber it should be ok, you might need to keep the hedge clipped to keep it from competting. this may not be much help to you, johnplotsman might have a better suggestion? good look with it though, its sounds fab.

Where are you planting the climber? In a pot on the slabs or are you removing a piece of the slab to plant it? I'm not sure if you're concerned about competition at ground level or lack of light!

So well put Rachel. Exactly what I wanted to say but could not find the words.

The climber will be between the hedge in th ground, i'm hoping the upper growth on the climber will keep ahead of the hedge till it reaches the upper frame above the height of the hedge.

Fran, do you mean actually in the same line as the hedge? I am not sure that would work - too much competition.

 I was thinking of in the line of the hedge, hoping that the climber growing faster than the hedge would get above final level of hedge. I was thinking of the way Honeysuckel grows wild in ditches. But I might fall back to your idea of a pot on the slabs. Thanks

I think it would work Fran if you chose your climber wisely I agree with you that honeysuckles growing in the wild in ditches seem to not mind the competition. Some clematis might be ok too as they grow naturally at the base of trees where it's very dry and clamber up to get light (they also like there roots cool) I can see Rachel's concern about space as there does'nt seem to be much room to plant a post, climber with the new hedge. Also I think Joe swift did wire up the poles in gardeners world a month back to help climbers go up the poles. Good Luck, will check back to see the results

You have a very good point there about the Clematis HeadGardener. We had one (Montana) growing at the base of an apple tree and it loved it. Grew right up through to the top of the tree.