Pergola plants in pots

Cactus_Flowers

(as opposed to in the ground, but I couldn't think of any 'p' words to explain that!)

I will soon be getting a pergola built in my back garden, and am planning what plants to grow and train over it - I'm thinking maybe clematis and/or honeysuckle, but there's more research to be made. However, at the same time I will also be putting down a patio/gravel over some/all of my small garden as I believe the soil is really poor here and it will take a lot of work to get to a usable condition, so my intention is to grow the pergola plants (and all other plants I'm planning on) in pots.

I am very much a beginner gardener, do these kind of plants do well in pots? If they are in a pot that's too small will they just stop growing at some point? Are there any plants that definitely need to be in the ground so they have more space to grow roots? Apologies for these really basic questions!

Nobbie1967

Clematis don’t seem to like being in pots and any other plant that gets to a decent size is going to struggle to get enough water. I’d suggest planting in the ground, but replacing some of the poor soil with fresh topsoil. What makes you think the soil is poor?

twopenny

It's going to be work and maintenance potting up as they grow, watering and feeding especially once they are twined round the pergola.
Then there's taking off the dead leaves and stems.
There is a compromise that might work better. A wooden tub with no bottom. Loosen the soil under before placing over and fill with john innes 3, put a tube or cut plastic bottle in so you can water to the base.
But I'd agree. Just digging the planting bit - and a bit more, add some good compost mixed with the natural soil and a little bonemeal. It will make your life easier and plants healthier.

Honeysuckle is evergreen. The old types grow the best.
Any reason its not roses?
I have a Blush Noisette growing in compacted soil under liner and gravel. Evergreen and scented clusters of flowers all year.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_'Blush_Noisette'

Apodemus

I'd second 2P's view on the pots.  Just plant into the ground and topdress with good feed regularly.

I have a Blush Noisette doing well in a poor location, so can attest to that, although evergreen, it does go fairly sparse at my latitude in winter. 

I've also got golden hops, which do well once established and give a good dense foliage over the pergola in summer.  Since it dies completely back in winter, it means that there is no foliage in the way if you want to do winter maintenance on the structure.

Of course, if you are far enough south, planting grape vines over the pergola would be a good option.

Flugelhorn

it is really hard to get decent plants for a pergola from pots so I would suggest going with planting in the ground. I have tried the "climbers in a pot up an trellis" the last couple of years and have given up - 3 clematis and a passionflower, all looked pathetic this year

Cactus_Flowers

Many thanks for your comments! I'll be honest, as I don't really know what I'm doing I'd just taken the view of some trusted neighbours as to the soil condition, as well as my garden itself being mostly a scraggly mess of broken concrete (left by the previous owners, I don't think used the garden at all in their 20 years here).

It sounds like it will be worth it to put some work in to the soil, and I will definitely be looking again at my choice of plants!

twopenny

Another rose i had that is evergreen and blooms all year I can't find the name of. 
It's Madam something something and like the other pest free. I'll have to ask my neighbour who has one because I want it in my new garden.

The neighbours may know something but I had the same thing here. I found that because there had never been a garden while it took some time doing a piece at a time it was actually ok. Just hard work.

But now I can look out at it and see colour and shape all year round.
I used dwarf fruit trees at the back so double reward.

Dwarf buxus hedging in places. That will grow in any soil and makes a year round structure. Quite cheap too. Hidcote lavender will make a good hedge or small neat plant. Add a it of sharp sand and bonemeal on planting and trim back to a nice shape in autumn.

Apodemus

twopenny said:

Hidcote lavender ... trim back to a nice shape in autumn.

...if you are far enough south to be able to do that!  Up here the lavender is only now coming into full bloom and the end of flowering is about the time of the first frosts. GQT advised a spring pruning for those of us in the far north.

twopenny

Would it make you grumpy if I said that down south I'm getting a second flowering?
And it will stay through winter.
Even survived having been move and half it's roots concreted in.
But it's interesting to know what happens differently in parts of the country

Apodemus

twopenny said:

Would it make you grumpy...

I'm afraid that's easily done! 

Floss

Cactus_Flowers said:

Many thanks for your comments! I'll be honest, as I don't really know what I'm doing I'd just taken the view of some trusted neighbours as to the soil condition, as well as my garden itself being mostly a scraggly mess of broken concrete (left by the previous owners, I don't think used the garden at all in their 20 years here).

It sounds like it will be worth it to put some work in to the soil, and I will definitely be looking again at my choice of plants!

That doesn't necessarily mean that the soil is poor, just neglected.  Get rid of the old concrete, add some enrichment and ensure that rain water can soak into the ground below any patio/ paving and you should find that your pergola planting will do well.