Pruning and Training Climbers and Wall Shrubs

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Climbers and wall shrubs create valuable opportunities within a garden – to add height, create garden wallpaper, cover a wall or fence, or decorate an arch or pergola. There are plenty of ways to incorporate them into your garden, and plenty of good reasons to do so!

To keep plants looking good, with strong growth, healthy foliage and plenty of flowers if relevant, some timely maintenance is required. Sam Southgate, part of the RHS Curatorial team, will be demonstrating the principles of pruning and will teach you how to decide when your climbers need attention.

You will look at a wide range of different climbers and wall shrubs during this session, including wisteria and clematis. This is an opportunity to find out how to ensure your arches and pergolas are filled with colour every year.

• Tutor: Sam Southgate is part of the curatorial team at RHS Rosemoor. He previously worked and studied at RHS Wisley where he completed the RHS Diploma in Horticultural Practice. He is the designer and creator of The Nest at RHS Wisley, and unmissable and unignorable spiral-shaped structure created with stems of dogwood, willow and birch. It is an example of how Sam is keen to promote sustainability in gardens, and rather than calling it a dead hedge, has coined the phrase life-giving hedge, to recognise its wildlife value.  
• Location and arrival information: The tutor will meet you on the Visitor Centre terrace and the workshop will take place entirely outside in the garden. Please allow 15 minutes to park in the main visitor car park, enter the garden and assemble on the Visitor Centre terrace.  
• Catering: This workshop does not include catering. You are welcome to visit the onsite catering before or after your workshop. Full details of the available outlets and what they offer are on the RHS Rosemoor Food and Drink page of the RHS website.
• For this workshop you will need:
  • Your booking reference number to show to the team at the Garden Entrance. 
  • A notebook and pencil to make notes.
  • Clothing suitable for being outdoors, appropriate to weather on the day. 
  • Closed-toed shoes (not flip-flops or sandals)

Skill Level: Upskiller – I have mastered the basics of gardening and would like to build my horticultural knowledge and skills.