Do all climbing plants need supporting

A. There are basically three types of climbers; self supporting, climbers and twiners and those that have nonatural means of support at all and need to be trained.

The latter two need quite a lot of assistance, but the first group - those that send out tiny roots that grip onto walls or fences - which incorporate the likes of ivy, climbing hydrangea and Virginia Creeper just need a helping hand at the beginning. When small tie them onto a small bamboo pole or stick so they don't flop about and them plant them at an angle so the top growth is touching the wall. The new growth will now grow straight up the wall and start getting to grips with it in no time. Note that climbing plants can do damage to walls, so it is best to check with your garden centre before planting by an exterior building wall.

A. You have all sorts of options, some man made and some natural. Plants such as clematis, honeysuckle, jasmine and passion flower climb by attaching their stems or leaf branches to whatever support is handy. Cheap, but effective, are a series of wires, stretched between wooden posts or wound around the heads of screws or nails in the wall. The first should be about two feet above the ground and a minimum of two feet across to give the plant plenty to hold onto, then add another length every foot or so.

A. This group, that includes favourites like roses and wall shrubs swuch as Mexican broom and potato plant, need to be trained onto a framework. Again you can decide what sort of framework you want, be it wire or trellis and then tie the stems to it to give the plant the shape and spread you want.

A. This is very important. Many people use garden wire, but if you do this you should make sure the wire is loose so that as the stems mature and expand the wire doesn't cut into them. Better are things that either stretch or can be adjusted to allow for expansion. Cable ties are very good, as are old stockings or tights that would otherwise have been binned.