Best use for mulch in the spring and best type of climbing vine?

I have mulched up leave in a 30 gallon garbage can full. I can plant, but keeping them alive Im not so good at. I planted 9 Marigolds last summer and all but 3 dried up. Not sure how to best prepare a soil planting area about 3 feet out from my garage, and approx. 20-25 ft long. I have some trellis climbing plants doing okay. How should I best prepare the soil next yr? till it up? remove six inches of old soil and replace? lime? fertilizer? I know nothing about this. ALSO, I have a 6ft x 7ft lattic at the end of my patio. I would like to plant some flowering climbing vines next to it next year. What are some good plants to consider for fast climbing that will come back each spring? Thanks

Best use for mulch in the spring and best type of climbing vine?
If your soil is bad then by all means replace it, but maybe it only needs to have some good compost incorporated into the soil to boost it.


You can purchase composts that have water retaining agents that will also help with the drying out problem but adding the compost will also help with that.


After adding the compost also add some all purpose fertiliser, either in granule form, slow release form or organic any of them will do the job. It all depends on what you want to spend as they all vary in price. Leave a week or so, then plant out, with your annuals or perennials.


Your mulched up leaves would be OK to put under shrubs to help retain water in the summer mths.


As far as climbers go, Jasmine is a fast grower, scented and comes in many varieties.


You could also consider climbing Roses. Clematis,Teracoma.


I am not sure where you live, but I'm sure if you go to your local garden centre they will have plants relevant to you own area and weather conditions. There are so many to choose from.


Even something that fruits, like Passion fruit, you can buy ornamental varieties of those that have spectacular flowers in spring/summer.
Reply:Youre very Welcome, Happy Gardening Report It

Reply:Trumpet vine is nice. Orange flowers over a long period in the summer and not terribly invasive. They can be cut back drastically in the fall with no harm. It may take several years to bloom though.





Avoid wisteria if you're close to a building, you wouldn't believe how fast and damaging those vines can grow.





Another option would be sweet autumn clematis. It's fast growing, but easily maintained and has tons of little white fragrant flowers in the fall. Other large flowered clematis might be nice too. You can buy several varieties for blooms in early,mid and late summer. The flowers are quite spectacular too.





Good luck!
Reply:A good climbing vine is clematis. They like sun, so be sure the spot you plant them gets at least 4 hours a day. They'll spread pretty well, then die off in the fall. Cut back the dead growth, and the following spring, they come back.





As far as prepping the soil, mix in some peat moss and topsoil, or planting soil. You should be fine.