Suggestions for a climber please

Do you need to completely get rid of the ivy rather than just keeping it trimmed? Birds love to nest in ivy.

We have loads more ivy, there is another trunk next door to the one I want to put a climber which is covered in ivy which I'm leaving as it is as well as more further up the garden.

Clematis or honeysuckle would look good.

Jasmine would be good, the white fragrant variety. Climbing or rambling rose, but again I would get a repeat variety with some fragrance. If you want one to go mad you could try Rambling Rector, it is white and looks good for about 3 weeks. I would go for a couple, a climbing rose and a clematis. You will need to dig large holes and backfill with compost mixed with garden soil to give them a head start. This is a good time of year to plant, once you have prepared the soil.

Hi Gerry86.
Merlotgran is right in that birds like to nest in Ivy, especially Wrens who like to nest quite close down. We have Ivy in our garden and as such, we have Wrens, which are an absolute joy to see, and indeed hear when they sing.
Is there anyway that you an keep this tree trunk without removing the ivy?

Hi 1974cookie like you and merlotgran I love to see the birds in my garden, especially the smaller ones so I'm not getting rid of all the ivy I have by any means and I also have several dense bushes (no idea what they are as I inherited them), and the birds love them as well. I just want to brighten up a dull border that is in front of a boring wooden fence.

Might I hijack this thread to say that I am looking to plant a replacement climber on the outside of my house: last year I had a lovely passionflower growing there but was forced to cut it down because a gas meter had to be put on the wall in that location. The wall iseast facing, and there is only a narrow border where the soil is. Any advice gratefully received (would love something perfumed with interesting foliage in the winter).

I like a mix of climbers to cover all seasons, so to ivy I add a clematis, ideally one that does not need pruning, I have a lovely pink scented one called Elizabeth that flowers early in May, add some everlasting sweet peas for later flowers and if you like winter colour Jasmine mixes well with other climbers.

Ivy makes a brilliant support for other climbers, and if you are lucky you may get the lovely Ivy late autumn flowers.

In my experience anything which climbs does so uncontrollably. A climbing rose likes about 50ft to play around with.
At least ivy is evergreen, I’d leave it. Just clip it back to keep tidy.

Everest (sorry couldn't help myself) ?

I'd leave the Ivy alone after trimming and plant something like a clematis in a large tall pot in front of the trunk. Otherwise the ivy will keep coming back as the roots are nigh on impossible to remove and leave the soil in a very poor state. In a pot the clematis will be able to grow and thrive without being choked by the Ivy. I've done this with a few climbers in my own garden because nothing can compete with Ivy unless it to is an invasive plant like Russian Vine.

Doodle I was going to say "stout boots and crampons"

gery86 what about wisteria? Or, as others have said, various honeysuckles & roses would work, however if you want a quick fix for next spring, then nasturtiums or ipomoea? (Or that one relayed to the potato that I can never remember the name of, it's blue, anyway, might be plumbago?

The best Clematis I have apart from my Montanas is a lovely one called Guernsey Cream. This photo is not the best but this Clematis has performed brilliantly this year and was covered in blooms .