38 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



CHAPTER VII 

 CLIMBERS ON TREES 



IT has already been shown that the natural support for 

 a climbing plant is a tree or stout shrub. In nature 

 climbers have nothing else to climb, except perhaps a 

 rocky projection. There is, however, often a struggle for 

 position, and the ill effects of some climbers, such as Ivy, 

 on the host plant make it inadvisable to set climbers to 

 grow over trees or shrubs that are themselves of value. 

 No gardener who knows the habits of ivy allows it to 

 fasten itself on a tree, unless it be one of no importance. 

 Yet there are a few climbers which are not unkind to their 

 hosts. Clematis, Tecoma, Roses, and Vines, which are not 

 twiners, and therefore have not a tight and ever-tightening 

 embrace, may be allowed to climb and hang themselves 

 upon trees without danger. 



In his book on Hardy Trees and Shrubs, Mr. W. J. 

 Bean gives some useful hints on tree climbers. "The 

 establishment of a climber in close enough proximity to a 

 tree to enable it to overrun it requires some consideration. 

 It is often of little use planting it at the base of the trunk. 

 Although frequently selected, that spot is too dry and too 

 shady, except in decrepit trees or trees with tall, bare 

 trunks. If any branches come near enough to the ground 

 to enable the newly planted climber to be attached to them, 

 that is usually the best place to select. It may be neces- 

 sary, however, to secure the branch against being blown 

 about too roughly by storm, and so pulling out the climber 



