Whilst spells of wet weather drive most gardeners up the wall, going unnoticed in our gardens and naturally growing up the wall are climbing plants.

Plants that climb or ramble add a vertical dimension to any garden by transforming walls and fences. They will effectively disguise dead trees and stumps, sheds or unsightly areas. They will happily clamber over trellises and bring colour to the dullest corner or the straggliest hedge.

Fragrant climbers such as Jasmine, scented Roses and Honeysuckle are also ideal for masking the smell of dustbins. Evergreen climbers will provide green cover all year round.

To prepare the ground for your climbers only takes about ten minutes per plant. Remove all weeds and dig in well-rotted farmyard manure, garden compost or planting compost and a handful of fertiliser such as bone meal.

Climbing plants vary in how quickly they will cover the space allotted to them. Ivies, for example, often take a year or two to establish themselves before romping away, while Honeysuckles grow almost before youÕve planted them!

It is also worth noting that some plants are self-clinging, while others need supports to climb. Climbers can be planted at any time of year, but the best selection is available in the garden centre during early spring.

Look in the climbing section for Roses, Clematis, Ivies and Honeysuckles. Roses are for pillars, arches, walls and fences. Rambling Roses are more vigorous but only flower once. Climbers are less prolific, but flower for much of the summer.

Two favourites worth looking out for are "New Dawn" which is shell pink and "Golden Showers" which is yellow. "Pink Perpetue" has large fragrant pink blooms and flowers all summer.

Clematis is a spectacular flowering climber that likes its roots in the shade and stems and flowers in the sun. Plant a Clematis several inches lower than it is in its container, then place stones or pieces of broken flower pot over the roots to create shade.

Alternatively, plant a bushy shrub nearby. Look out for the "Montana" variety, which has masses of white scented flowers in early spring, while the "Dr Ruppel" has large deep pink blooms with a darker stripe during May to July.

This variety is best placed in the shade to prevent the flowers fading. Ivies are self-clinging and evergreen. They will grow anywhere and thrive in shade and drought.

Look out for the Hedera helix "Goldheart" with its gold variegated evergreen leaves and the Hedera colchica "PaddyÕs Pride" with its large yellow splashed leaves.

Honeysuckles will also grow pretty well anywhere! Rather than being trained too severely, they are best left to scramble. Lonicera periclymenum "Belgica" is very fragrant and has white purple flowers during the early part of the summer. The lonicera japonica "Halliana" is best planted in the shade and provides glorious yellow flowers throughout the summer months.

Once you have prepared your ground, it will take about ten minutes to plant each climber. Before planting, stand the plants in their pots in a bowl of water so that the compost is wet through.

If you are planting your climber alongside a wall or fence, remember to plant at least 12 inches away so that the roots are not sheltered from the rain.

Dig a hole roughly twice the size of the pot and fork over the bottom. Tap the plant out of its pot and place in the hole, loosening the roots slightly.

Ensure that the tops of the roots are just below soil level. Adjust the supporting cane so that it links the plant with the wall/support.

Fill in the surrounding hole and firm the soil with your foot. Finally, sprinkle a handful of bone meal around the plant and water well. Keep watering for the next few weeks. Remember, it is better to water thoroughly twice a week than a little every day.

Climbers need little maintenance, but it is useful to tie in and train your climbers regularly during the summer. Use a trellis and wires to achieve this.

Some climbers may need cutting back if they grow too big. While this can be done at any time, it is often best done during the late autumn or winter.

Clematis needs special care if you don't want to lose next year's flowers. Check the label or ask at your garden centre for advice.

Don't forget, you can also grow your climbers in pots and containers - they make very attractive features on any patio or decking area.