Charlie Nardozzi of the National Gardening Association offers tips on caring for vines.
Vines grow and attach themselves to their supports in various ways, primarily by twining, climbing by means of tendrils, growing aerial rootlets that cling to supports or using hooks.
Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata ) (figure A) and Virginia creeper (P. quinquefolia), both popular for their attractive foliage, climb with the aid of aerial rootlets. They can become invasive.
Perennial flowering vines mandevilla and clematis grow by twining themselves on a trellis or other support.
Mandevillas (figure B) require full sun or partial shade and must be overwintered indoors except in the mildest climates. Provide a fast-draining garden soil, and fertilize monthly. Scale insects, mealybugs and aphids are common insect pests. Don't overwater: before watering, make sure the top 2" of soil is dry to the touch.
Clematis (figure C) prefer full sun on the foliage and cool shade on the roots. To provide shade, plant them among shrubs, and mulch the base of the plant to keep the soil cool. The soil should be fast-draining and rich in organic matter. Water generously, and feed with a balanced fertilizer in spring and fall.
Pole beans (figure D) are annual vines that also grow by twining. Some types produce attractive flowers. Pea vines (figure E) climb by means of tendrils.
To propagate a perennial vine, select an area of tender new growth about 12" long at the end of a stem. Remove the lower leaves, and scrape the surface of the stem with a pocket knife or the blade of your shears (figure F). Don't remove the stem from the parent plant, just bury it in the nearby soil. In about a month new roots will form, and you can separate the plants. The process is called layering.
GUESTS :
Charlie Nardozzi
180 Flynn Ave.
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: 802-863-1308
Tollfree Phone: 800-538-7476
Fax: 802-863-5962
Email: nga@garden.com
Website: www.garden.com
National Gardening Association
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