DIY Network

Climbing Vines From "Ask DIY" episode ADI-407

Jessie Mack Burns shows some of the best selections for climbing vines that can be integrated into your garden. She also shows how they may be trained to grow on trellises, walls or fences.

Q: What are some climbing vines that will enhance the appearance of an exterior wall?

A: (Ask DIY Gardening expert Jessie Mack Burns) Flowering vines can add visual interest to your garden or the outside of your house. There are a number to choose from, and some are better suited to certain climates or regions of the country. Following are a few examples of hardy vines that grow well in a variety of settings:

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• Honeysuckle is a flowering vine that comes in several varieties. One of the most common has an elongate yellow-orange flower with a wonderful aroma. Honeysuckle (figure A) can be grown along a wall, or in a yard or bed using a trellis. Simply plant the honeysuckle at the base of the trellis, and wrap some of the vines in and around the legs of the trellis(figure B). If the vines don't hang on at first, don't worry. Honeysuckle is fast-growing, and will begin wrapping itself around the trellis within a short time. You can use twist-ties to train it and help it along, if you wish.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

• Morning glory is another hardy vine. The seeds are available from garden centers and seed suppliers, and can be started in pots or other soil-containers ( figure C). Once the vines begin to germinate, simply place the pot near a trellis (figure D). By keeping the vines rooted in a container, they can be trimmed and brought inside during the winter if you like.

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• Clematis is a vine with beautiful blooms (figure E) in white, pink, deep purple or blue. It grows equally well in shady and sunny areas. The new growth forms tendrils (figure F) that wrap around adjacent structures, making this an ideal climbing plant.

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

• If you like, you can use tie-tape (figure G) to train the vine to specific areas where you want it to grow.

• In warmer climates, pink mandevilla is a good choice for a climbing vine. This plant grows well without requiring a great deal of wate, and features large, attractive blossoms (figure H). It grows well on trellises and fences (figure I). It grows quickly and can be a little invasive, so it may need to be trimmed back occasionally.

  Figure G

  Figure H

  Figure I

  
  

  Figure J

• Another desirable warm-climate vine is jasmine (figure J). It also grows well on trellises and fences, and can live well in warm, dry conditions.

RESOURCES :
Easy, Practical Pruning: Techniques for Training Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Roses
Model: 0395815916
Author: Barbara Ellis
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-351-5000
Email: tradecustomerservice@hmco.com

The Garden Trellis: Designs to Build and Vines to Cultivate
Model: 1885183186
Author: Ferris Cook