So, I’m dumb, and I planted trumpet vine and silver lace vine right next to the garage a few years back, and now these vines are quickly pushing apart the cracks in the walls and growing into the garage. I’m mad. They were a gift from Ethan one Mother’s Day and really are gorgeous, but these vines could quite literally pull apart the whole structure in a decade if I leave them there. (But they’re so pretty! And invasive!) So I have to cut them down.
Stupid environment. Stupid garage.
But anyway, since I have to cut them down I want to replace them with something equally gorgeous that will a) cover a trellis that is obviously right next to a wall I’d like to not destroy, b) flower, and c) will survive in partial sun/shade in Zone 5. There used to be concord grapes there that did well but the birds and bugs completely overtook that side of the house thanks to the fruit.
Any ideas?
If you want to keep some of your trumpet vine, I think it’s pretty easy to find one of the shoots that it puts up, dig it up and put it someplace else. I’d reccommend somewhere where you cut the grass on all sides in order to keep it from taking over the world.
Mmm….Concord grapes.
Rivikah, The trellis is smacked up against two boundaries, so I’m either killing my garage or my neighbor’s yard/fence. These suckers have to go. (Did I mention I’m pissed?)
Linnaeus: I know, right? Part of me wants to replant the grapes. I used to pluck a couple bunches of grapes and put them in a bowl in the middle of the house and the whole house would smell fresh and sweet.
Maybe Virgin’s Bower? Very pretty. Blooms in the fall.
Honeysuckle! It is the anti-trumpet-vine. I have some evergreen variety with very fragrant white-to-yellow flowers (the blossoms ripen). It’s survived fifteen years of temperatures from 0-110 F and frequent droughts. No bugs, no disease, speads just enough and no farther. It attracts humming birds and butterflies. There is bonus deliciousness, too! Honeysuckle is just ten kinds of awesome.
You might ask a local nursery about what variety would be good for your zone. I bet there’s a kind that tolerates cold as well as mine does heat.
I searched on vines, partial shade, zone 5; I really like the wisteria and bittersweet.
http://springhillnursery.com/search.asp?a=a&start=8&pf_z=5&t=pf
Can I have them?? I would love to see something grow on my back deck.
@Bonnie: If you want them you can have them, but I’m relatively sure that the trumpet vine will need more sunlight than you get on the back deck. I think the silver lace vine *might* do okay, but it won’t flower like it’s supposed to without some direct sunlight. Plan on taking any trees down soon?
@Celeste: I was looking really hard at those bittersweets, but aren’t they essentially kudzu? I did a quick google last night and was put off by the association… ?? But they’re so pretty!
@Melodrama Jones: Do yours climb? I have some honeysuckle that is supposed to drape over my back porch but essentially just grows all wild and bushy. I don’t think it’s a long enough variety to do what I want it to :D. I want something that will climb UP! without being too invasive on the garage. Do you have any suggestions on a honeysuckle variety that might do that?
Maybe some pics will help.
This was the arbor when the grapes were on it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/feminaerecta/33064491/in/set-437571/
And this is a mostly bare picture from the other side:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/feminaerecta/2443413049/
Once the trees above it and behind it are filled in with leaves the trellis is shaded enough that the trumpet vine has yet to bloom (after four years?).
Also, when judging invasiveness, some research told me to avoid anything advertised as “hardy” or anything along those lines.
I love clematis too, and have some along the deck, but it’s not *quite* hardy enough to do the job.
Thanks for the offer and I may come get them later in spring.
Also the picture you provided of the grape arbor is really pretty. Too bad it is so messy.
What about wisteria? As long as you do not pretend to be one of the Desperate Housewives of Wisteria Lane!!
What about wild clematis (aka bridal veil/virgin’s bower)? I have some (WV) in partial shade and it does great, plus, it hasn’t even tried to take over. The thing I really like is that it has one main stalk.
Clematis terniflora, aka autumn clematis. Had some growing over an old brick wall at my place in eastern Missouri and it was exuberantly florific in September. Midwestern winter seems to keep it in check.