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24 November 2009
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how to be a gardener - The complete online guide

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Gardening
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Understand plants

Plant types

Annuals and biennials

Perennials and bedding plants

Woody plants

Evergreen and deciduous plants

Bulbs

Climbers

Plant names

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Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6

Module 7

Module 8

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 rose Tendril
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
Test your knowledge
Go further


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