Trellises bring architectural interest to a garden while the plants that climb them add beauty and color.
A free-standing trellis can section off one area of the garden from another, creating “rooms.” Climbing plants are a creative solution for a too-small garden. They offer verticality to the setting. And fast-growing annuals can make even a new garden seem established.
Less-permanent “tepee trellises” can be fashioned from bamboo poles, available at garden-supply shops. Tie three or four 5-foot poles together a few inches from one end using twine. Separate the poles at the other end, forming a tepee. Push the poles directly into the soil. Morning glories and other annual vines will be happy to clamber up them.
Some plants, like ivy, are self-clinging, which means they attach to a wall with the holdfasts they have on aerial rootlets or modified leaves. Others, like clematis, are twining plants; these have long stems or tendrils that wrap around the support as they grow.
Climbing and rambling roses aren’t technically climbers at all; they have neither holdfasts nor tendrils and must be woven through a trellis or tied to a support.
The classic climbers are roses, clematis and wisteria. Other wonderful perennials include honeysuckle and trumpet vine, Campsis radicans, with large blooms that are usually orange.
Two vines worth planting for their leaves alone include the hardy kiwi vine, Actinidia kolomikta, with green leaves splashed with pink and white, and the vibrant golden hops, Humulus lupulus “Aureus.”
Perennials will serve you well for years, but they may take a few to come into their own. In the meantime, consider planting annual vines, which let you change your color scheme from year to year.
Morning glories, Ipomoea purpurea, are easy and quick to grow, as are their fragrant, night-blooming relatives, moonflowers (Ipomoea alba).
Cup-and-saucer vine, Cobaea scandens, has purple or white cup-shaped blooms. The climbing snapdragon, Asarina antirrhiniflora, has delicate red or purple tubular flowers. Canarybird vine, Tropaeolum peregrinum, a climbing nasturtium, has blue-green leaves and bright yellow flowers.
The whimsical balloon vine, Cardiospermum halicacabum, is a real charmer; also called love-in-a-puff, it has black seeds marked with a white heart inside bright green balloons, and pretty chartreuse leaves and tendrils.
Some helpful tips:
– It’s important to match the plant to its support and space. Wisteria really needs a sturdy metal structure. Roses require either metal or a reinforced heavyweight wood base. Make sure there’s enough room for the plant to grow as it matures.
– If the plants need a little help, tie stems to their support with cotton string, strips of cloth or twist ties. Don’t bind tightly or you’ll damage them.
– A trellis looks great against the wall of a house but shouldn’t be flush up against it. Leaving a few inches between the wall and trellis lets air circulate, which is beneficial for the plants and, even more important, the house–plant life can rot and damage woodwork.
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Martha Stewart welcomes letters. Write to her in care of the Chicago Tribune, Home section, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. Or send e-mail to TribHome@aol.com.
