The Magic of Annual Vines
For the cost of a packet of seeds, you can quickly
create a show stopping garden accent or a living
hideaway for children, hide a rusty chain link fence
or an unsightly garage wall, and turn an ordinary
balcony into a private garden.
Started from seeds, annual vines will scramble to
heights of 20 feet or more, highlighting features you
want to show off and covering eyesores.
Here are just a few of the many uses for annual
vines:
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Add a little magic to your
garden by planting a trellis or pole with brightly
colored morning glories and moonflowers. You'll have
a burst of brightly colored flowers during the day,
and luminescent white blossoms at night. |
|
Add shade and privacy to
your balcony with annual vines. Because their root
systems are limited, they can be grown in large
planters on a trellis, or allowed to trail from
window boxes and big hanging baskets. The vertical
growing habit will make a small area seem larger.
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Annual vines are ideal for
introducing your children to the magic of gardening.
Build a teepee of bamboo or fallen tree branches,
and plant with scarlet runner beans or tall
nasturtiums. Your children will enjoy their colorful
(and edible) hideaway while learning about the
wonders of nature. |
|
Plant climbing vines along
chain link fences and light poles to soften the look
of your landscape. |
|
Annual vines will quickly
blanket a problem slope or other area that is
difficult to mow with colorful flowers. If your
slope is difficult to plant, use a vine that will
reseed itself such as morning glories or cardinal
climbers. |
|
Plant vines along a
southern wall to keep the house cooler in summer.
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Annual vines are easy to grow. They like a sunny
location with good quality, well drained soil. Plant
your seeds according to the package directions, and
keep them evenly moist until they germinate. After
germination, you'll only need to water when the
weather has been extremely hot or dry. Use fertilizers
sparingly. An abundance of nitrogen will encourage
your vines to produce an abundance of dark green
foliage and few flowers.
Have your trellises or other support in place when
you plant your seeds. If you can't plant right next to
the support, insert twigs into the soil next to the
seeds to lead the vines to their intended support. If
the vine can't find its support right away, it will
waste time searching and reaching for something to
grab on to.
Recommended Annual Vines:
Black
Eyed Susan Vine
Unlike many
climbing vines, this one isn't invasive so it can be
incorporated into existing gardens without fear of
crowding out existing plants. It's a great choice for
hanging baskets and window boxes.
Height: 5' to 10' trailing
vine
Cardinal
Climber Vine
The deep
red flowers with white or yellow throats are sure to
draw attention to your trellises, fences and poles.
Height: 6'
to 20' vine
Cypress
Vine
This vine
can add a tropical texture to your landscape with its
interesting foliage and mix of bright red, pink and
white flowers. With the right conditions, it grows to
20 feet.
Height: 8'
to 10' vine
Hyacinth
Bean Vine
This
striking vine will have your visitors asking if it's
real! The flowers are followed by velvety purple bean
pods.
Height: 6'
- 20' vine
Mina
Lobata
'Firecracker Vine' or 'Exotic Love,' this unusual,
exciting, interesting annual vine has up to 12
beautiful 2" tubular flowers on each spike. Performs
well on trellises and in hanging baskets.
Height: 6'
to 10'
Moonflower
Plant this
fast-growing vine on a porch, near an entrance, or
under a window where you can enjoy the evening
performance and heady fragrance. The flowers bloom
only at night, and unfold in 2-3 minutes, and event
worth waiting for!
Height: 10'
to 20' vine
Morning
Glories
In the
summer, flowers open in the morning, and in the fall
they stay open all day. Morning glories are grown as a
groundcover in difficult areas.
Height: 8'
- 10' vine
About the
Author:
Jackie
Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, a leading
internet destination for gardening information and
ideas.
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