Support for climbers

Judith Drake

Last year we had a new fence along the back of our garden and I have some climbers, including roses, honeysuckles and a weigela. I’m wanting to put some wires across to support these before they start growing strongly, but am unsure as to the best way. Should I simply buy wire and vine eyes or do I need specific tensioning equipment. 

Thank you.

Lyn

We’ve used wire and vine eyes, no special tensioning tool. 

Obelixx

There are tensioning clips you can buy quite cheaply but a sturdy pair of pliers will be enough to twist the wire ends round the vine eyes.   The tighter the better. 

Lyn

A man with stronger hands is a help to me😀

Flinster

These are great if you long for a nicely wrapped neat coil!
https://www.screwfix.com/p/tornado-wire-fencing-bending-tool/1956f

and turnbuckles are really good as you can tighten them up after the wire has stretched.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/hardware-solutions-turnbuckle-hook-3-16-zinc-plated/29538?tc=UT8&ds_kid=92700022063966642&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1244072&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsrb-ivmO4QIVjp3tCh3XIwX9EAQYAiABEgIKNfD_BwE

I don’t work for screwfix. these can be bought in most hardware shops! 😬

Mr. Vine Eye

I use turnbuckles (from screwfix) 

but you could also tighten a halfway placed vine eye, once the wire is running through it. That could take enough slack off the wire to get it reasonably tense.

I hate the look of saggy, floppy garden wire.

Another option for roses is to not use wire at all. Just screw in vine eyes where needed and tie in the canes directly to the vine eyes and each other. Then you can't see the supports as much.

thats what I've done on our back wall.