How to Design With Vines

Gather together vine ideas from gardening catalogs, books and magazines. Your choice of vine will depend on what type of structure you wish to cover. Consider the sun exposure, moisture and quality of soil, space and availability of support structures in the spot where you are planting the vine. Take into account your personal preferences regarding flowers, color and appearance.

Cover an unattractive or see-through fence such as chain-link with a vine. Twining vines will fill in the openings, providing a dense, attractive enclosure. You can use annual vines such as morning glory or sweet pea, or choose a perennial vine such as star jasmine, honeysuckle, or trumpet vine.

Add interest to a bare wall with a vine that is self-clinging, or place a trellis in front of the wall for the plant to climb. Clinging vines are difficult to remove for painting and can sometimes damage masonry, so be careful when choosing these types of plants. Boston ivy, creeping fig and Virginia creeper are all vines that cling to rough surfaces such as masonry walls.

Cover the top of an arbor, pergola or arch with flowering vines for a romantic, old-fashioned feel. You can choose any vine suitable to the spot. Attach the vine to the structure with garden tape, or encourage twining vines by gently twisting them around the support structure. Clematis, climbing roses, wisteria and honeysuckle are good choices for providing canopy.