How to Grow Vines on Stucco

Choose a vine with small suction pads at the base of its roots, since these naturally cling to stucco. Vines with pads include English ivy, Boston ivy, Virginia creeper and climbing hydrangea. Most vines enjoy full sun or partial shade, but the specific light requirements depend on the vine you are growing. Generally, vining plants like a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5, but you can find vines that prefer a more alkaline environment if your soil pH is higher.

Prepare the site for planting. Choose a site on the south or east side of your home to protect the vine from cold and winds if you're growing a tender vine that enjoys warm weather, such as one that's at the northern end of its growing range in your climate. Turn over the soil with a shovel to loosen it and remove rocks, weeds and other debris.

Dig a hole two to three times the width of the root ball and just as deep as the root ball. Remove your vine from its container and gently massage the root ball. Unwind tangled roots before placing the plant into the prepared hole. Firm the soil over the roots to finish planting.

Water the soil to saturate it, removing air bubbles from the earth. Thereafter, water it when the soil feels dry to the touch and allow the soil time to dry out between waterings.

Mulch the vine using 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch, such as wood chips or pine needles.

Train the vine onto the stucco by pushing its tendrils against the wall. Use plastic landscaping tape to adhere the vine to the wall until the pads attach. As the vine grows, it naturally self-secures to the wall.

Fertilize the vine in the spring, summer and autumn with 1 ounce of 12-4-8 fertilizer for every 6 1/4 feet of vine area (or 1 pound per 100 square feet). Sprinkle dry fertilizer on the soil and water to disperse nutrients.

Use pruning shears to prune back long tendrils or vine shoots that grow where you do not want them.