I'm talking about... Vines!
Vines are a great way to beautify any garden by adding a whole new dimension of plant growth. They can draw the eye up, over or around; they can prettify plain old fences or trees; they can mark boundaries or contain other visual elements, like nature-imitating garden beds.
They can also feed you, attract beneficial insects, increase overall biomatter on your site, improve the soil, and take advantage of sunny spots that other plants aren't able to reach.
Plus, they're soooo pretty!
Look at the difference that some vines make in my own garden:
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| Before: Boring! |
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| After: Amazing! |
Some Vines to Consider Growing:
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| Grapes! On a Pergola! |
Grapes
If you have a long enough growing season, grapes are a staple-type of food vine for you to grow.
Arctic Kiwi
For those of us with much shorter growing seasons, Arctic Kiwi is a fun and interesting alternative to grapes.
Honeysuckle / Trumpet Vine
There is some beautiful native honeysuckle where I live, and I'm excitedly training it onto a trellis. It attracts lots of insects and has very unique flowers.
If you live in a warmer place, try Trumpet Vine, which attracts hummingbirds, too!
Clematis
Yellow clematis can be invasive, so check local regulations before you plant. But the many shades of blue and purple clematis are a safe bet, and grow vigorously in full sun to part shade. The stunning flowers are a great addition to any landscape.
The best part: no matter where you live, or what part of the garden you're looking to bring into three dimensions, you can likely find a clematis to suit your needs!
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| Maybe you'll find treasure at the top! |
Beans / Peas / Sweetpea
Often quick growers, many varieties are available that have gorgeous flowers followed by delicious food. Plus, legumes help fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil quality and acting as a fertilizer to other plants. Buy a legume inoculant to help the nitrogen get a'fixin!
Hops
If you're looking for a plant that will cover a trellis, pergola or arbor fairly quickly, Hops may be your plant. It is somewhat plain looking, but adventurous gardeners can use the plant to make their own beer!
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| Espalier How-To |
Berries
Lots of berry plants can be trained up arbors and trellises, blackberry and raspberry being the best examples. Delicious!
Anything You Can Train!
Many fruit trees and bushes increase their production when they are espaliered. That's a fancy word for training a tree onto a fence or trellis. That's right! You could have an apple tree trained to grow over your deck, or up the wall of your house.
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