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17 September 2014
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how to be a gardener - The complete online guide

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2 - Plant types
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Climbers

Climbers are lazy. Rather than grow a self-supporting woody trunk themselves, they rely on something else for support; another plant, a wall or trellis. And different types of climber have devised many crafty ways to hold on to whatever they grasp:

Twining 'bits'
Using 'body parts' to coil around a support, for example, clematis leaf stems and honeysuckle stems.

A climbing roseTendril
Sweet peas and vines adopt a variation on the coiling technique, using a specially adapted leaf.
Thorns
Act like grappling irons, for example, roses and blackberries.
Sticky pads
Virginia creeper produces mini-suckers that grip a support.

Aerial roots
Virginia creeper produces mini-suckers that grip a support.

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2. Understand plants

Introduction
Plant types
 Annuals and biennials
 Perennials and bedding plants
 Woody plants
 Evergreen and deciduous plants
 Bulbs
 Climbers
Plant names
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