I have a 2-sided pergola made of wood lattice, attached to a deck.

Each pergola side has 3 graduated height panels and I have a total of 5 Clematis plants (3 Jackmanii, Comtesse de Bouchaud and Ernest Markham) growing on the exterior sides of the pergola.

I use small garden clips (a wonderful invention) to train the vines as they grow but am limited to 6 feet height for safety reasons (I'm an 80 y.o. widow living alone). The pergola is not solid enough to set a ladder against it.

After growing 6 feet, the subsequent unattached vines tend to fall over in masses and we don't get to appreciate the beauty of single blooms. Sometimes, some manage to creep through to the deck side for an additional show (wonderful surprise).

I would like to hear what you think of my two potential solutions:

1. Attach eyelet screws to the tops of the pergola, spaced out, with lengths of string falling down the exterior sides of the pergola, with the hope that the vines will attach themselves to them. Should I use twine instead, or fishing line? And should they be free flowing or anchored at the bottom?

2. Same principle as above, but using garden netting.

Or if you have other suggestions, I would greatly appreciate hearing about them.

@MaureenQC Just found this…
Could you post a picture of the area ? It would really help to see the plant and arbor .

These are pictures from previous years because our flowers won't appear until June.

One picture shows the pergola structure (top with two sides of 3 panels). One picture is of the exterior side of three panels. The short panel has Ernest Markham clematis and poses no problem. The tallest panel with the Jackmanii clematis on the right is my problem area. Because of the uneven ground, I can't use a ladder to access the higher sections of this panel.

I was thinking of working on the interior side, which sits on the deck, and place the eyelet screws on the top frame (there is no opening between the pergola top and the trellis panels) and feed the cord/hemp/fishing line through the first openings in the trelliswork to the exterior.

I have 6 different types of clematis, love them all and would love to showcase them better. So any help you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks.

MaureenQC Really nice clematis and beautiful on the lattace support system. the lattice support system is very well adorned with flowers. The clematis can be trained to top the tall arborvitae's behind the lattice easily as it continues to grow or continue to train on the lattice where there's plenty of room left.

I admit I have a few huge clematis monsters that need pruning. They are next to two small holly trees they can climb . Another near lattice attached to a pergola 15'x30' across the front entry over the front entry door paired with a wisteria that blooms at the same time. Also another clematis that is climbing up with a climbing rose each year. I always wonder which plant will grow the tallest.

Some genuinely need pruning . I will wait to see when spring arrives to begin thinning out a tiny bit pleazing to the eye. Clematis are a little bit of a diva but a plant well worth planting. Once established it is hard to control their growth and decisions on what to do can be difficult. So once a new element is added to the mix maybe your clematis will continue to evolve and grow for many years .