RAMBLERS AND CLIMBERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1938, Page 10

RAMBLERS AND CLIMBERS

MUST HAVE SUPPORT. Where ramblers or climbers are to be planted, arches or pergolas to support them must also be erected before planting. It is a great mistake to make shift with anything in the nature of flimsy supports, for the weight of a well-grown climbing rose is considerable, and repairs will be found well-nigh impossible without completely retraining the plants. A first precaution is to use only sound and substantial timbers. The additional outlay involved in the purchase price of good wood will be more than repaid in later years, for if treated with one of the preservations which are not injurious to plant life, either arches or pergolas will last for many years. Some care must also, be taken to see that the pillars are firmly embedded in the soil, or a high wind may bring disaster. One sound plan is first of all to sink drain pipes about 6in in diameter, in which the posts are firmly embedded in concrete. An alternative to this scheme is to nail a stout cross batten to the foot of the posts. With this latter method it is, however, essential to excavate a fairly considerable hole.