Please take part in our Reader Survey!
Nature’s Sweet Surprise
by Anna Ribbeck
The magic of Mother Nature produces an abundance of unending surprises. Consider the vine. A vine such as honeysuckle wraps itself around anything it comes into contact with—a fence post, a tree, a downspout. The minute it touches an object, it starts to twine sensitive tissues by producing cells faster on one side than the other. In this manner, it bends as it grows, and continues to bend around and around the object.
All vines are not like honeysuckle, however; vines differ significantly in how they climb and grow. These differences can result in questions and dilemmas for the gardener. Why won’t a tomato vine climb a trellis? Why won’t the spectacular clematis climb a lamppost? What is the right climbing object to pair with wisteria, which can eventually choke a tree to death through the strength of its twine? Learning about the different categories of vines and how their climbing mechanisms work will not only answer the questions, but will also give you a new perspective on the world of vines.
Vines use three main climbing methods and can be categorized accordingly: those that use tendrils, those that cling, and those that twine. Understanding a vine’s method of growth will help you determine the best support with which to pair it.
Some vines support themselves by growing tiny tendrils that reach out to an object and twist around it for support. As soon as the vine touches an object, it immediately goes into production of these tiny tendrils to support its growth. Some producers of tendrils, such as the passionflower, need a narrow stem to wind around on. Mesh or netting is ideal support for the tendril growers. Other examples of tendril vines include chickpea, sweet pea, coral vine, Virginia creeper, evergreen smilax and, of course, the grape vine. Since the grape vine tends to be heavier than the others mentioned, be sure to provide a strong wooden or metal support, while remembering to include thin horizontal elements for the tendrils to grasp.
The next group of vines grows by producing appendages that will adhere to an object. These have aerial rootlets, almost like little suction cups, which hold fast to any surface touched. Boston ivy and trumpet vine are examples of this type of vine. They will climb easily on brick, stone or any type of masonry. These are also better known as clinging vines. You should also include in this group the Japanese hydrangea and the cross vine. Wooden fences, siding and even trees attract this type of vines, but care should be taken to control where they grow. Vines with rootlets or disks are unsuitable for a wooden building. They will also damage aluminum and vinyl siding.
The final group is the twiners. Climbing jasmine, honeysuckle and wisteria do not have natural support and depend on trellises or other types of lattice for assistance. The biggest drawback when using twiners can be the weight of the vine. Plan for that when planting. Wisteria would require something much more substantial to climb upon than would the delicate clematis.
If you have a wooden fence that needs covering, make sure you plant the proper vine on it. Plant ornamental vines, like morning glory or climbing roses. Japanese star jasmine or Confederate jasmine would also be a good choice for a wooden fence. All of these need something to train them onto the fence. Nylon or thin wires are always good trainers. These vines will not penetrate the actual wood and cause damage as a clinging vine would. A fence and an aggressive, or bullying, vine can have a good relationship, provided it is the right type of fence and the right type of vine.
Honeysuckle is great when partnered with a chain link fence, but don’t hire honeysuckle unless you are prepared to prune the vines rigorously—honeysuckle is a rapid grower. It redeems itself, however, with a wonderful fragrance and dense growth.
Bullying vines will even wind themselves around their own fragile vines to get to the sun or spot they want to live in. Some other bullies of the vine group are kudzu, perennial pea and bittersweet. These vines were brought into our areas with no realization of their rapid growth. The kudzu arrived from Japan, and is truly beautiful with lovely flowers, but will take over your hedges, shrubs and trees and smother anything that gets in its way by preventing the penetration of daylight. The bullies of the vine group do make excellent contestants for hanging baskets. Here you can make safe use of kudzu, perennial pea, Hall’s honeysuckle and bittersweet.
Some vines like euonymus (wintercreeper) and English ivy crawl along the ground and make excellent ground covers. They send out roots along the stem for support in the soil.
Different vines grow at different rates. If you want your vine to do a job and grow in a hurry, dig a large hole and incorporate lots of organic matter and fertilizer. For slower growth, go easy on the fertilizer and use peat to lighten the soil rather than manure. Pruning in late winter or early spring will give you a head start on vine maintenance. Don’t wait until your vine is a tangled mess before beginning to preen it!
All vines need good light. That’s why they climb—to reach the sun. They need loose moist soil, and cool, good drainage is also very important.
Now that you know the basics of vine planting, you are ready to become Mother Nature’s magical assistant. Visit your favorite nursery, get your young vine and with one good “Abracadabra” you will be ready to share one of nature’s sweetest surprises with all your friends.
