Cover Walls with Plants – Climbers are among the best variety of plants for a small garden as they don’t take too much space and climb up to add aesthetics to the vertical space. The romantic site of vineyards covered with ground and wall covering wines may seem like a distant dream to you but getting these vine plants isn’t as hard as it seems. In fact bougainvillea, clematis, pole beans, sugar snap peas, moonflowers, and clematis, etc give such a beautiful vertical structure and dynamic to any existing space.
The key to having the perfect climbing plants is by recognizing the pattern of growth among these plants. Some wrap while some just curl around a wall. Here are some tips to make you understand this climbers behavior better to get the perfect plant covered walls:
Weather and stem issues
Recognize the types as some climbers are shrubby that may or may not have permanent woody stems. Some have soft stems that usually die down during winter such as the Golden-leafed Hop. So, make a wise choice as per the weather and plants’ ability to maintain seasonal or annual growth.
Purpose of cultivation
Some climbers are categorized as evergreen while some are deciduous. The categorizations are also done on the basis of aesthetics or more as some are grown solely for their flowers while some for fruits. So, chart out your priority or the purpose of growth as growing a fruit bearing climber in a small space won’t keep the plant healthy.
Type of climbing behavior followed by the plant
Another issue is that the method followed by the climbing plant may also influence your choice. A Russian vine often twines itself around anything in proximity while clematis follows the pattern of climbing through tendrils that make it easy for landscapers to cling it to a wire. Some plants like Ivy, even grows with the wall, following an attached pattern. So, ensure that you pick such a plant that grows conveniently and doesn’t require much time for upkeep.
Type of support the climbers seek
Most weak stemmed plants like Roses often sprawl over the other plants and seek support from the thorns. Shrubs like Japanese quince can also be grown against the wall as they have stiff stems and can easily self-support. So, choose the plant that fits your support options.
Supporting the climber
Regardless of the supported behavior that your plants instinctively possess, ensure that you choose such plants that can be easily moved away from the wall so you can manage the upkeep if you are intending a smaller, DIY style garden.
Finally, the factor you should let most influence your choice is the wall itself and its dimensions. A high wall would require you to notice the direction of climbers’ growth so there is the least management, support, and training involved in making the climbers grow north or south. Most of all, be sure that no such climbers have been planted nearby your residential location as the area tends to be dry so may make it hard for you to nurture and cultivate the climbers.
