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| Photo Credit: Felder Rushing |
| Make vine structures large and sturdy for proper support. |
There’s little unusual about planting vines – after all, they’re just plants, with normal needs for decent soil, light fertilization and a deep watering during dry spells. Like other plants, they range from fast-growing annuals and tropical vines to longer-lived herbaceous or woody vines. And just as with other plants, some vines grow well in sun, while others prefer shade.
Sometimes vines are used as groundcovers for shady areas or erosion-prone areas, or they’re used as lawn substitutes where mowing is difficult (in which cases large areas of soil may need tilling or working up). But most gardeners plant an individual vine beside a fence, trellis, arbor or pole, or where it can clamber up and over walls – and even on other plants.
It’s this last note that separates these unique plants from all others: Because of their flexible stems, vines tend to flop over the ground without physical support; they need something to grow on. Stems of some vines wrap around and encircle their supports; others have aerial roots or tendrils that curl around or attach to soft supports. Still others have to be lifted off the ground and tied to stakes, wires or hooks attached to walls.
At any rate, the single biggest mistake most gardeners make when planting climbing-type vines is underestimating how large the vines get. A vigorous tomato plant can quickly spill over the top of a store-bought “tomato cage” and need extra support; a bougainvillea vine planted near the street can reach out and grab pedestrians. And climbing roses can totally overwhelm a typical arbor, making it nearly impossible to walk under or sit beneath.
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