Covering a fence with vines is one way of beautifying it. Vines are fast-growing plants, so they can provide the cover and beauty you desire for your fence in a short time.
Sometimes, homeowners install a fence that is inexpensive and simplistic. If vines were planted on it, it would offer a natural facelift.
There’s one reason why homeowners often hesitate on getting vines on their fences. They fear it running wild. Vines could be notorious because they grow swiftly and could become a nuisance. Apart from creating damage, vines are known to stain fences and even cause wooden ones to rot.
Thankfully, not all vines are that difficult to manage. There are fence-friendly vines that would beautify your walls and aren’t aggressive enough to threaten your space. Also, a lot depends on the type of fence you have.
We’ll look at some of them, how to choose them, and outline ways you can care for your fence vines. But first, let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of growing vines on a fence.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Growing Vines on Fence
Vines can add a lot of beauty to your walls.
Because of the way they grow, wrapping themselves around objects as they hold themselves up, twisting their stem around any supports, and attaching themselves easily to vertical surfaces, they require very little maintenance to keep them growing as they form a beautiful cover for your fence.
Although not all vines are fence-friendly, tendril vines, twining, and clinging vines do the job well enough.
Benefits of growing vines on fence
- Aesthetics: Growing vines is a very cost-effective way of making them look nice for those who may have installed very unattractive fences around their property. Many vines are fence-friendly and beautiful. When well maintained, they add beauty to the wall and the building.
- Privacy: Vines also meet the privacy needs of homeowners. Because of how they grow, vines tend to cover spaces in-between fences. You can enjoy some serenity and privacy with the assurance that vines will keep private things away from unwanted eyes. Vines also prevent some pests or rodents from gaining easy access to your property.
- Shade: Vines also provide shade. Although this may not be as much as you’ll get from trees, it adds some level of tint.
- Scent: Although only a few people plant vines just because of their scent (not all vines produce a lovely aroma, and those that do only do so when flowering), you could plant one that adds a beautiful smell to your home.
Drawbacks of planting vines
- Damage: This is a significant drawback, and many people want to avoid vines because they may be very abrasive and damage their hosts. If you have a wooden fence, there is a real risk that the vines could hold enough moisture to cause it to start rotting.
- Unwanted spread: Another major issue you may have with vines is the way they spread. Although some vines spread faster than others, fence-friendly vines like clematis, morning glories, and trumpet can be well controlled. Vines need to be pruned and trimmed not to extend beyond the desired points.
- Invasive species: Apart from the natural spread of vines, some have very similar invasive species. When planted, these species spread rapidly, taking over every available space until you get rid of them.
- Thorns and Debris: Some vines vine with thorns which make it difficult to prune. The thorns could also cause injuries.
Regardless of the vines you choose, there will always be pros and cons. However, you should select a vine that will give you minor problems and come with the most advantages.
Consulting with a landscaping expert before planting is advised. They may offer advice for creating customized outdoor living spaces and revamping the look of your outdoors with the use of fences and vines. They may also provide a tailored landscaping services plan so you can get the most out of your outdoor space.
Choosing Correct Vines
Since vines grow differently and have varying characteristics, you should plant a vine that can fit your climate and grow without any problems. Some vines are noted for their beautiful leaves and flowers, while others give off inviting scents.
Although most vines are fast growers, some climb upward, and others creep while some trail downward. Choosing the correct vines depends on the condition of your garden. If you’re in a warm climate, you should select a vine that can do well in such situations.
You also need to make sure that your fence is well suited for vines and that the one you’ve chosen won’t damage your fence.
However, the first question you need to answer when choosing a vine is what you need it for. Some need vines for privacy, in which case you want to go for a vine that produces thick leaves.
Also, some vines have flowers and beautiful scents. If that’s what you want, you may not get as much privacy, but the sights and aroma would be incredible.
Some vines only offer privacy in the summer, and your fence is left almost bare in the winter, although they may produce many beautiful flowers. Here are some suggestions on vines that meet different needs.
For Privacy, you need vines that can produce many leaves around the year and grow rapidly. Ivy would be a good choice. Morning glory would also do a good job and it has beautiful flowers too. The only problem with it is that it reduces its volume of leaves once winter falls.
Honeysuckle is, however, a popular choice if what you need is a vine that produces flowers and produces scents. With this vine, your home will always be attractive and welcome; however, the great scent is also an attraction for insects and flies.
For a more lasting flowering experience, go for Trumpet vines which are more rugged and can survive the winter and so they flower all year round. However, get ready to host birds frequently on your fence.
The type of fence you have also played a role in the vine you plant. Wooden fences are susceptible to rot by certain vines, but annual vines work better with wooden fences than woody vines.
Annual vines have more space for air, thereby trapping less moisture. Examples of annual vines that can work well with wooden fences are sweet peas, moonflower, and morning glory.
Vinyl and aluminum fences are not at risk of being damaged by moisture, so any vine that can easily climb the wall and provide cover and beauty will be ideal. Woody, annual, or even thorny vines would go well on them, as long as you’re ready to keep trimming them.
Finally, consider the sunlight, space, and soil requirements of whatever vine you choose. All vines have peculiarities. But most fence-friendly vines have similar requirements.
The most popular fence-friendly vines include Hops, Hyacinth Bean, Black-eyed Susan Vine, Passion Flower, Morning Glory, Dutchman’s Pipe, Trumpet vine, Clematis, Climbing Hydrangea, Honeysuckle, Hardy Kiwi, Variegated Porcelain Vine, Virginia Creeper, Silver Fleece Vine and Purple Leaved Grape.
Plant them a foot apart around the fence to let vines grow on a fence because vines would instead grow up on a fence and not along with it. Most vines are easy to grow from seeds. You can use strings or plant tapes to guide the plant in the direction you want them to grow.
As the plant vine gets heavier, they’ll need support to retain their direction. Simply put, support against the fence to hold the weight. A trellis or any wooden support would do. Tie the heavier vine branches to it to keep it going.
It won’t take long for the vines to take shape and keep the walls and fences adorned. Most vines are fast-growing because they have so many leaves, and their stems are used to carry nutrients across broad.
Fence Vines Care
Caring for vines is essential because they could run wild. Once they start growing, they may take over your fence and even pull it down if you don’t tell them to stop. But while you limit their growth, you should keep them healthy.
You should always look for dead or diseased stems and remove them promptly. Also, you need to direct the growth as vines can grow outside the target area.
You should learn how to prune them so that their growth is controlled. When vines are not pruned, sunlight may not reach the lower parts of the plant.
The best way to care for the vines is to direct and limit their growth. Direct its growth by guiding it around where you want it to grow. If there are any tangled and errant stems, you should also remove them. The vines may become wild and “suffocate” under their weight if you don’t.
Vines need sufficient light and water, especially during their first year. However, they don’t need too much water afterward. But do remember to water the ground whenever the soil is dry.
Conclusion
Growing vines on fences is a way of beautifying the walls and adding more privacy. Although there are different types of vines, fence-friendly vines are the only ones that are ideal for adorning fences and walls.
You should know what comes with the vines you adorn your fence with. Remember, different vines have different peculiarities. But something is specific; your fence will wear a new, exciting look if vines come into the picture.
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