Vines are not social climbers

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HEN JACK PLANTED THE beanstalk, he had no idea what he was in for.
Many gardeners probably feel the same way about that trumpet vine they planted a few years back.
With tendrils that reach and grab and then hang on for dear life, it sometimes seems as if vines have a mind of their own -- taking over cherished spaces, choking out more docile, neighboring plants and creeping up buildings with relentless determination.
If you've got a trellis that's calling for a climber, but you're worried about a potential takeover, here's a list of some aggressive vines to steer clear of: Chinese wisteria; English ivy; Japanese honeysuckle; Kudzu; Trumpet vine, also called hummingbird vine; Oriental bittersweet; Silver lace vine; Winter creeper; and Boston ivy.
Aggressive vines
Of course, in the right location, even these aggressive vines can conform perfectly.
For instance, if you've got a trellis out in the middle of the back yard, far from the house, why not plant a trumpet vine?
"The vine will only climb on what is available, so if it's planted several feet away from your house and it has a trellis, you don't need to worry about it taking over," said Philip Steiner of Mellinger's in North Lima.
Speaking of trellises, you must choose a trellis that will adequately support the type of vine you plant.
A gentle, flowering clematis, for instance, won't need the rock-solid, sturdy support that a woody wisteria will require.
Calm clematis
A clematis is one type of climber that you can plant right next to the house without having to worry that it will one day force its way under the vinyl siding or crack the chimney mortar.
Just make sure to give the clematis plenty of room. This long-living, summer-blooming perennial produces big, velvety flowers and can climb up to 20 feet and spread to a width of 10 feet.
Another tip: The clematis thrives in full sun, but it prefers cool shade on its roots.
Vitis vinifera
Another vine that likes a hot sunny spot is the table grape vine, or Vitis vinifera.
With pretty clusters of blue and purple table grapes -- such as concord or purpurea -- bring a tasty twist to the garden.
Grape leaves also provide shade and can be used as a garnish, and woody grapevines can be cut, dried and wound into wreaths.
Ground cover
Of course, vines aren't just for climbing -- they make a great ground cover, too.
Traditional ground cover favorites such as vinca and pachysandra thrive in adverse conditions, bringing lush greenery to otherwise barren areas.
Pachysandra is one of the only plants that will happily thrive even beneath a dark, shady grove of pine trees, and vinca helps control erosion on shady banks.
Pachysandra and vinca can and will take over, though, so don't plant them in a quaint, little flower bed with docile pansies and petunias and expect them to behave.
Gaining control
If you already have a bed of ivy that's gone wrong, Steiner said the only way to really get rid of it is to spray it with a weed killer.
"You can pull the vines out, but if one little piece of root remains, the vine will keep re-establishing itself," Steiner said. "The best thing to do is to pull out as much of the vine as you can and then spray the rest with weed killer."
After seven to nine days, the soil will be safe for planting again, but don't be surprised if vines try to make a comeback.
"You will have to keep watch for the next four years or so to make sure the vines aren't trying to grow back," Steiner said. "Any little piece of vine that you see will need to be pulled out promptly.
XAdditional source: 2001 Gardener's Companion