by Glory Lennon

Created on: May 28, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2009

If there were a "Survivor" television show for plants, the vine would be the only one left standing each and every time. The vine and other climbing plants are the most bent towards survival of all the flora kingdom and the strange thing is they have nothing else except survival as their incentive. They don't care for fame and fortune, you see. Why this survivor attitude is in their nature is anyone's guess. Perhaps it is because they started life in dark, dank jungles and had to literally crawl their way up to reach the life sustaining sun. This might have honed their killer instinct much like those poor saps climbing the corporate ladder.

Knowing this, we may come to the conclusion that vines and climbing plants would grow with no extraordinary help from the gardener. We would be right about that, but there are several things the gardener should be aware of before incorporating vines into the landscape. With this in mind, let us go over some essential planting tips for vines and climbing plants.

While all vines and climbing plants are a bit different, they all give the landscape a bit of height through their flexible, bendable stems, which somehow grab and hold onto other plants, walls or structures such as the trellis. There are four methods vines use for climbing. They are twining, clinging, tendrils, or the accidental traveler. Knowing which method your vine is will help you provide adequate support for it.

Twining

Some vines merely grow in spirals, either clockwise or counter-clockwise using anything in their way - other plants, a fence, or trellis. These include Star Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Morning Glory, Wisteria, Hops, and Runner Beans. These usually don't go around very wide diameter poles or trees but if you provide thin sticks, cord or string, they will use those very easily to reach for the sun.

Another tip for the twining vine, though you might consider it trivial, is that each vine will choose only one way to grow, either clockwise or counter clockwise, and no matter what you do, it will refuse to go the opposite way. It's just a bit stubborn that way. Learn which way it goes so that when you are helping it along, you will be doing it correctly. If you disregard this, don't be surprised when you come back to it the next time - it will have unraveled itself. Yes, it can and will happen. No fooling.

Clinging

These vines have protrusions somewhat like suction cups or tiny roots which cling to walls, trees, brick, or wood structures. Some examples

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