Using Vines to Decorate your Garden
Vines are a beautiful way to decorate your home. They are extremely low maintenance and look good just about anywhere. If you’ve got a fence , then growing a vine over it can be a quick and gorgeous solution. However, there are many types of vines for different situations.
There are many different options as far as ground vines are concerned. These types of vines grow fast and strong, and just inch their ways along the ground. They are very easy to direct, so they can make a border around your garden, or weave in and out of the plants. I suggest using these as a hardy ground cover if you just want some green on your dirt or mulch. Usually you can find a type that is resistant to being stepped on. It’s like a leafy, nice alternative to grass. Even if you have kids and a dog, it should have no problems staying alive.
You can also try “twining” vine. This refers to their method of climbing. Twining vines require a lattice or equally porous surface to climb up, since they are not sticky at all. They just climb by sending out small tendrils and loop around whatever is nearby. Usually you have to guide them a lot more during their early stages, and after that they will grow neatly.
Vines look good on the ground or on lattices and you can also blend them in to the very architecture of your house. This is usually achieved through the use of vines with small tendrils that have adhesive tips. They extend from the vine and attach themselves to almost any surface. If your garden is adjacent to your house and you want something to camouflage the big unsightly wall, it’s a great idea to start out a few vines near the base. If you have a vine like the Virginia Creeper growing, then your entire wall will be covered in a matter of months. However I have seen situations where the vine got out of control. After that, you have no choice but to watch the vine take over your entire house.
One of the vines that you would probably recognize is Ivy. You see it around a lot, generally because it is so adaptable. Out of the types I mentioned above (ground, twining, and sticky pads), Ivy can fill in for pretty much anything. It makes a great ground cover, and will grow up about any surface you put it on. Although it grows quick and strong, I wouldn’t suggest growing it up your house. This is because recently, buildings which have had ivy for many years have found that it has been deteriorating the building.
So no matter what you want to do with a vine, you should have no problem getting it to grow. You should always do your research beforehand and find out about any negative qualities the vine has (such as its ability to destroy buildings, in Ivy’s case.)
Looking for more tips and suggestions for your garden? Contact us For a free consultation or call 805-773-5395.