Things to Consider
Care Instructions for Vining Plants
If you are planting a vining plant that needs support, install whatever mechanism you plan to use for support before planting the climbing plant. Again, you can use wire, a lattice, or a trellis to supply the necessary support. Think carefully about placement and how much of a time commitment you are willing to make. For instance, if you plant one of the climbers listed above that is rapidly growing against a wall with windows, are you going to constantly find yourself in a time crunch trying to find the time to prune the plant back? While these plants can look beautiful when properly maintained, they can quickly get out of hand if you miss just one pruning. Certain varieties, such as the trumpet vine, for example, typically produce large seed pods that result in an abundance of baby plants if not taken care of promptly, making them a nuisance. So, choose carefully and wisely
Betty offers the following advice for caring for your vining plants to ensure they thrive:
1
Most plants should be planted deep enough that the soil meets the stem.
2
Note: If you are planting clematis, they should be planted an inch or two deeper, lower than where the plant meets the stem.
3
Make sure they get plenty of sun.
4 5
Mulch the plants to keep in the moisture.
Fertilize the plants once a year to be sure the plants get proper nutrients.
6
Understand lighting versus shading conditions: Betty observes, “Most vines that I can think of are plants that will take full sun to at least part shade and what that means is—full sun means six hours of sun or more and part shade means it should get at least four hours of sun a day.” Cut the plants back in the spring. Prune clematis plants six inches from the ground. Betty assures new gardeners there’s no need to worry about over-pruning when starting out because the plant comes back from the root.
7
When choosing a vining plant for your garden, be sure to choose one that is suited to your assigned geographical planting zone. Pay close attention to the amount of care and maintenance the plant requires and choose one that matches the time you have to spend gardening.
22
HOME SWEET HOME Magazine
Powered by FlippingBook