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Planting Vines

Seasoned Gardener : Episode SGN-409 -- More Projects »
Master gardener Chris Dawson visits an apartment building in Zone 9 with several garages and a long driveway; the overall look is too stark and utilitarian. The homeowner has already taken steps to add character with climbing plants.

  • Lavender trumpet vine (Clytostoma collistegioides) is a rapid-growing evergreen vine that grows as long as 30 feet. It is hardy to 20 degrees F and blooms with soft purple flowers from late spring to fall. It has tendrils but needs the support of a trellis or fence.
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Bougainvillea flowers are actually bracts, or colored leaves, that surround the central flower.
  • Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana) is a twining vine that also needs support to climb up a smooth surface. It flowers best when under the slightly stressful conditions of a drier soil.
  • Algerian ivy has rootlets that cling to any surface; it can become invasive. It has climbed into the bougainvillea and begun to choke it out. It also overgrew a narrow area along a wall and required frequent pruning. The homeowner decided to remove it, but for areas where space isn't an issue, it is a good cover plant.

    A big blank wall is a canvas for a gardener who enjoys vines. After removing the ivy, the homeowner painted the surface to prepare it for new vines. Dawson chooses two vines to cover the length of the wall:

    • Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a clinging vine that forms a dense mat against a surface. It is hardy to Zone 10. It can tolerate a range of light conditions so it's a good choice for a spot that gets both sun and shade. One plant can grow 40 to 50 feet high. When planting, space plants three feet apart and lean the stake that it is planted with toward the wall to encourage growth in that direction.
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    Secure mandevilla to a trellis with plastic-coated twist-ties. Be careful not to twist too tight and sever the vine.
  • Mandevilla (Mandevilla splendens) is a tropical vine that is hardy to 20 degrees F. It needs to be tied to a trellis to grow up against a surface. As the plant grows, move the ties so they don't cut into the vine.

    Trellises help twining and climbing vines and are typically installed directly against a wall or surface. Pre-made trellises are available at garden centers and home improvement stores. With a little hardware and lumber, you can modify a pre-made trellis to make a hinge trellis.

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    Place screws along the length of the bottom of the lattice to create a sturdier base.
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    A couple of hinges are enough to secure the trellis to the base.
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    A hinged trellis allows access to a wall for maintenance work.
    Start with a pre-made trellis and cut off any vertical pieces that extend beneath the lowest horizontal crosspiece. Screw a 1x2 piece of lumber to the bottom of the lattice. Attach a 1x3 piece of pre-treated or naturally rot-resistant lumber to the base with hinges. Be sure to use rot-resistant lumber because it will be in contact with the soil.

    Attach three evenly spaced metal stakes to the bottom of the 1x3 to hold the trellis firmly in the ground.

    Simply position the trellis and push the stakes into the ground. Secure it to the surface with a couple of hook and eye fasteners.

    Aside from being functional, trellises add a strong focal point against a wall and enable you to grow a greater variety of vines.

    Also in this Episode
    Seasoned Gardener : Episode SGN-409
    •Planting Vines
    •Maintaining and Propagating Vines
    •Softening a Garden Wall
    •Adorning a Brick Pathway
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