Vines - General Information
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  (January) I have recently added an arbor to my lawn and would like to start a (perennial) vine on it beginning in the spring. I would like something that blooms and I have seen a vine with small yellow flowers that I like but I don't know what it is. I also have a wisteria which never blooms so I don't think I want another one. What do you recommend and when should I plant?

  The yellow flowered vine is Carolina jasmine or jessamine. It is an evergreen vine which blooms profusely in the spring, provided it gets ample sunlight. It would be a good choice. To extend the bloom period you could also add some summer flowering trumpet honeysuckle, or sweet autumn clematis for fall flowering. There are other vines as well, and spring is often when the nurseries have a good supply.

  (April) I am in Cotter, Arkansas near Mt. Home. I have a deck which is above a walk-out basement so when I plant I have to plant in pots. I would like to know what kind of flowering vines I can put in flower pots to climb up onto my lattice roof on the deck. Also how big of pots will be needed. My deck faces the South but later in afternoon I have filtered sun. I saw a Hydrangea vine but don't know if that would work here. I need your help before planting time. Thanks very much.

  Almost any plant can be planted in a container and do well, provided the container is large enough. Winter damage would be the biggest limiting factor where you are, so the larger the pot the better--and they will need water even in the winter, if they are perennials. You may want to invest in annual vines, that you don't have to bother with winter protection or watering. Some annuals include hyacinth bean, cypress vine, moonflower, morning glories, and love-in-a puff. You could also use perennials including: trumpet honeysuckle, cross vine, and trumpet creeper. These are pretty tough vines. The climbing hydrangea is slow to bloom, and may suffer in a pot for the winter. Same with Carolina jessamine as far north in the state as you are.

  (October) I have several big oak trees in my yard with English Ivy climbing up their trunks to about ten feet. I've been told that this won't hurt the trees and also been told that yes it will. Do I have to remove the ivy?

  You do not have to remove the ivy, but do maintain it. As long as the ivy is on the trunk of the tree, it should pose no problem. It is when the ivy is allowed to grow unchecked, that problems can occur. The ivy can compete for sunlight with the leaves on the branches and the added weight of the ivy on the limbs can cause breakage.

  (November) I have a west/southwest facing brick house. It sits high on a raised lot and for that reason has a large expanse of exposed brick. What would you suggest as a cover. I had English ivy on a brick front in Kansas City years ago and when we decided to remove it we had very unsightly residue where the ivy had attached itself. It was virtually impossible to remove. Had Pyracantha on a Phoenix house which we anchored to the house with stick ons with ties. Would you use a trellis or let something cling. A trellis would have to be 15' x 15' or so to cover the area in question.

  Does it have to be a groundcover or vine? Could you not use foundation plantings that have height that could cover the exposed brick? That would not only cover the exposed area, but soften the house as well. How large a bed you build will depend on the size of the yard, but I would prefer that option to a vine on the wall, which will require some maintenance.

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