×
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
  • Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
  • The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
  • P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
  • Email: [email protected]

Creeping vines that prevent privacy

Living

10 Creeping vines that prevent privacyFor many people, their gardens are a place to escape the stresses of daily life. One of the ways to create that retreat feel is through privacy.

While trees and shrubs can certainly create a living barrier within your yard, creatively placed vines can also give you that feeling of privacy. Keven Graham, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), principal and landscape architect of Planning Resources in Illinois, recommends vines for places that are tight or narrow such as a side yard or near a spa.

Vines can also work well as camouflage for areas you might want to hide or simply give a softer look. Draping a chain-link or metal fence with a selection of blossoming vines can bring a more natural look to a very industrial piece in your yard [source: Graham].

An important point to understand when utilizing creeping vines in your garden is that vines climb in different ways. Considering these differences can help you match the right plant with the appropriate structure. For example, wisteria and clematis attach by twisting their tendrils around a support, whereas English ivy grows aerial roots that can attach to rough surfaces such as walls [sources: Williams, Dana & Lerner].

"Every plant has up sides and down sides, and plant selection is very personal," says Liz Pulver, ASLA, landscape architect licensed in New York and California. "Some people love vines that others would run from."

For many people, their gardens are a place to escape the stresses of daily life. One of the ways to create that retreat feel is through privacy.

While trees and shrubs can certainly create a living barrier within your yard, creatively placed vines can also give you that feeling of privacy. Keven Graham, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), principal and landscape architect of Planning Resources in Illinois, recommends vines for places that are tight or narrow such as a side yard or near a spa.

Vines can also work well as camouflage for areas you might want to hide or simply give a softer look. Draping a chain-link or metal fence with a selection of blossoming vines can bring a more natural look to a very industrial piece in your yard [source: Graham].

An important point to understand when utilizing creeping vines in your garden is that vines climb in different ways. Considering these differences can help you match the right plant with the appropriate structure. For example, wisteria and clematis attach by twisting their tendrils around a support, whereas English ivy grows aerial roots that can attach to rough surfaces such as walls [sources: WilliamsDana & Lerner].

"Every plant has up sides and down sides, and plant selection is very personal," says Liz Pulver, ASLA, landscape architect licensed in New York and California. "Some people love vines that others would run from."

In this article, we will explore 10 creeping vines and their different characteristics that can help you decide which vine might be the right fit for your garden.

The clematis vine is the quintessential flowering vine that you might have noticed growing up mailbox poles. Clematis are woody vines that can be either evergreen or deciduous. Its large blooms, especially those of the large-flowered hybrids and cultivars, can make a stunning statement in your garden. Keven Graham, ASLA, principal and landscape architect of Planning Resources in Illinois, recommends the Sweet Autumn Clematis, a sun-loving vine with white flowers, along with the Jackman Clematis.

While any clematis can be a wonderful addition to your garden, remember that climate can influence the amount of privacy provided by the plant. "In warmer climates, clematis can offer screening possibilities," says Liz Pulver, ASLA, landscape architect licensed in New York and California. "If you are looking for lots of screening and live in a cooler climate, I'd recommend using clematis as a flowering accent alongside vines which give you fuller vegetative coverage."

Whether you decide to grow them on a pergola or an arbor, clematis need a strong support to wind up because the vines can get very heavy [source: Grey-Wilson & Matthews]. For a healthy and beautiful plant, watch that some varieties don't get especially strong direct sunlight because it can bleach the flowers. Also, watch for clematis wilt, a fungus that can infect the plant.

 

Climbing up houses or over fences, English ivy is a historic staple when it comes to coverage and privacy. Ivy is an evergreen plant with dark, glossy, green leaves. When mature, it can produce white balls of flowers and black seeds [source: Klingaman]. Ivy can withstand lower temperatures if planted in a sheltered spot, which makes for a good year-round living privacy barrier [source: Glattstein]. It can grow to more than 30 feet (9 meters) and if not properly pruned, can become overwhelming instead of an accent plant in your garden [source: Grey-Wilson & Matthews].

If you're searching for a slightly different look with similar coverage, there are a variety of cultivars with different shapes and colors of leaves, from white-tipped to heart-shaped yellowish green foliage.

 

Photo Credit: michaeljohngrist.com

Related Topics


.

Similar Articles

.

Recommended Articles