ATP Podcast #62: Vines and Climbers

By dave
June 25, 2014

It is Vines and Climbers week at All Things Plants, so today we're going to talk about these climbing friends of the garden. What kinds of support structures do we like? And what are our favorite vines that we recommend to other gardeners? Are there vines that should be avoided? We'll talk about all that and more!

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Jun 24, 2014 9:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Dave and Trish - I enjoyed the podcast!

I was surprised at how many different types of "vines" that I actually grow in my yard after listening to all those you mentioned! LOL! Yikes! But I grow them each with a purpose. And none have proven to be aggressive vines. Of course, some are grown in containers just to prevent their unwanted spreading in my garden areas. I was so glad that you mentioned the cattle panels. I love, love, love using the galvanized cattle panels for arbors. I currently made 3 for my yard and one at the school I used to work at. The cattle panels will last longer than the posts they are attached too and the panels make a REALLY sturdy trellis/arbor for just about any vine/plant to climb! They work really well for me!

I have what I call a mini-pergola that I made using cattle panels on each side as a trellis for Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) to climb. I garden for hummingbirds and the birds do indeed love the blooms on those vines. I can sit underneath this structure in partial shade and watch all the birds and butterflies! I also hang my Epis from this pergola as it provides bright shade for most of the day.

I also grow several different clematis, but here in FL I have to grow them in a container because of the root knot nematodes. I also grow Passiflora incarnata in containers too, for the same reason. I grow Passiflora "Alba" which is a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing butterfly caterpillars. Those I grow along my picket fence.

I am also growing a Wisteria vine. It is the American vine called "Amethyst Falls" which is not supposed to be as invasive as the Japanese Wisteria (which can be a nightmare). Flowers are supposed to be smaller but just as pretty! I have it growing in a container. It is still a small vine and has not bloomed yet for the first time, but is growing on one of the cattle panel arbors. On another cattle panel arbor, I am growing climbing roses. (Also grown in containers up against the arbor.)

I thought for listeners who don't know what you are talking about when you discussed using cattle panels for a trellis or arbor, that I would share a few photos from my own yard....

Cattle Panel Rose Arbor:
Thumb of 2014-06-25/beckygardener/1a35cf

Another Cattle Panel Arbor that has Ipomoea indica and the wisteria vine growing on it:
Thumb of 2014-06-25/beckygardener/d6c2ae

And this is the mini-pergola/large arbor using the cattle panels for each side of the structure for Coral Honeysuckle to grow up:
Thumb of 2014-06-25/beckygardener/5c3d20
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
Last edited by beckygardener Jun 24, 2014 9:03 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 25, 2014 7:42 AM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Dave Whitinger
Southlake, Texas (Zone 8a)
Region: Texas Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Tomato Heads Vermiculture Garden Research Contributor
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Region: Ukraine Garden Sages
Thanks for sharing those pictures! They are inspirational. I think panels are so useful in so many situations!
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Jun 25, 2014 3:51 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
I agree! Galvanized steel will last a very, very long time and is so strong and sturdy!

I tip my hat to you.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
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Jul 9, 2014 6:13 AM CST
Name: Lisa
Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a)
Garden Procrastinator
Becky, Thank you so much for posting these photos!! Yes, I for one was having a hard time envisioning the cattle panels as arbors (I am quite the newbie), so your photos put everything into perspective. Your abors and pergola are beautiful! And what a great and useful idea! And I agree with @Dave that they are very inspirational. Thanks again!!
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Jul 9, 2014 10:52 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Thank you, Lisa! They are the most sturdy as well as cheapest arbors I've ever built. Made to last a long time! When the plants grow up them, you can hardly see the cattle panel fencing!
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
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Jul 10, 2014 7:37 AM CST
Name: Lisa
Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a)
Garden Procrastinator
Cheap and sturdy is right up my ally! I hope to get to try this eventually. Smiling
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Jul 10, 2014 12:23 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Good luck! Do post a photo if you make one (or more)! I love to see what other gardeners are doing! Thumbs up
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
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Jul 11, 2014 12:41 PM CST
Name: Lisa
Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a)
Garden Procrastinator
Will do! Smiling
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Jul 11, 2014 1:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Thumbs up
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
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