Plant selection is very personal. While some people only buy
whatever is on sale and don’t put much thought to what they personally want to
grow, their level of satisfaction with their home may not be as optimal as it
could be. Liz Pulver, of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
says that, “Every plant has up sides and down sides, and plant selection is
very personal. Some people love vines that others would run from.” One option
is to let your green thumb go free with a vine of your choice.
Reflect on your vine
type
If well trained, a variety of vines can reflect your own
green thumb. Many vines create a feeling of privacy and are a low-tech way to
keep your home cool. There are a lot of vines to choose from including: kudzu,
Virginia creeper, maypop, LabLab, grapes, English Ivy and Clematis. This list
is not comprehensive so do a little digging to find your vine.[1][2]
Use a trellis, fence
or arbor tree
The location of your vine is a big factor in not letting it get
out of control. Many master gardeners recommend a trellis, fence or arbor tree.
They recommend that you ensure that the trellis is weather and rot resistant.
If you plan on putting the trellis near a wall, make sure that you dig the
holes for the trellis eight inches from the wall, to guarantee there is enough
space between them. Whether you put the trellis in a walkway or near a wall,
dig your trellis holes twice the size of the pot it came in and include two
inches of loose soil for the roots to spread.
Learn vine
maintenance
Take steps to avoid causing any damage to your home.
Creeping vines can do a lot of damage depending on the structure of your home. If
you have a wooden structure and allow vines to grow on them, you might be
inviting insects to crawl everywhere. If you have a stone structure, the damage
can also be extensive. Vines actually adhere to the house. The root tips have
the ability to penetrate the outside walls of your house. The damage stems from
the moisture that the vines trap. Removing a vine from the walls is very
difficult as they are often very hardy.
Essentially, keep up on trimming and training the vine. There
are a number of fabric ties that you can use to train your vine and prevent it
from grabbing onto neighboring walls. If the vine does begin to climb up wall, prune
it. Since vines grow rapidly, prune regularly to maintain the desired look.
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