Tying up Plants | The Enduring Gardener

15th March 2017 • Stephanie’s Blog • Stephanie Donaldson

Inspired by visits to other gardens where they practise the fine art of tying plants onto their supports before (rather than after) they start to put on new growth, I have been out subduing plants that will look better and be more manageable after this treatment.

First recipient of this attention was one of my figs.  Both Pashley Manor and Sissinghurst do a fine job of tying in their figs and I’m hoping that my relatively young tree will look equally good and throw less shade onto the border beneath.

Sissinghurst Fig

My Fig

And here’s the one in Daniel’s garden – it’s work in progress.

Also while I was at Sissinghurst, I took a close look at the magnolia grandiflora  that spreads across the face of the brickwork in the top courtyard and discovered that the branches were discreetly tied to one another to keep them quite flat to the wall. It took a bit of muscle power and persuasion, but that’s another job done.

Sissinghurst Magnolia grandifolia

My magnolia grandiflora

Finally, the cultivated blackberry that grows at the back of the greenhouse has been supported in a rather ad hoc fashion and picking the fruit has involved lacerating my arms more than should be necessary. (Why didn’t I buy a thornless variety I frequently ask myself?)  I don’t want a permanent structure as that would involve sinking posts and as it is a sheltered spot I’ve come up with the solution of propping a couple of pieces of sturdy trellis against the greenhouse eaves.  The blackberries are now tied in, cover a larger area and should prove far easier to pick. I do enjoy finding solutions that don’t involve waiting for someone else to do it.