I have a problem. We built a beautiful yard last summer with a large pergola. I planted two wisterias and they were consuming the surrounding trees so I pulled them out. This spring I planted a variegated virginia creeper on one side, a climing hydrangea on the other and a clematis next to each so I could get some quick color until the hydrangea took off. The problem is none of the vines are adhering to the rough cut posts of the pergola. To complicate things, Sunset Magazine is coming out next June to do a story and I want this pergola looking great for their photos. I thought the rough cut lumber would give the virginia creeper something to hang on to but it isn't doing anything. I have tied it up but it is still not sticking. Yesterday, I put the twist wire up the sides for the clematis to hang on to but don't know if it will work. I think wires and whatnot look tacky. The yard is very manicured and this pergola is the only area that frustrates me. And the BBQ countertop that we've been waiting for.
I agonized over what vines to put on this pergola. The wisteria was too much and I felt it would be impossible to maintain. The hydrangea is such a slow grower and isn't doing all that well. The clematis are not climbing. The "snow showers" virginia creeper was very showy when I bought it but now it looks rather blah and isn't doing much. Please, any help would be appreciated. The pergola is stained a very dark mahogany and I hate to stick stuff to it unless I can make it blend. I am zone 6.
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Plantcrazy
need help with vines for pergola
I don't know why this is not working but I did include a photo
another picture
Sorry about that. The photo had the wrong suffix so I had to reload it.
First, love your garden! It looks awesome! Second, I'm honestly not sure you need vines crawling up the pergola, I think it looks fine just how it is now (but of course I'm not a designer!). I don't know why the Va creeper isn't sticking--maybe it needs to get a little older/better established before it'll do that? I don't grow it so I don't know for sure. A couple things you could try...first would be getting trellises stained to match the pergola and put those next to the posts, the vines would have an easier time attaching to those, and even if they didn't attach willingly you could probably tie them on there and it would be less conspicuous. Or if you got some metal hooks and painted them a dark color, attach them to the posts in a few places, then you can attach the vines to the hooks.
Hey Crazy (can I call you crazy?) That is a fabulous garden! ecrane has good ideas, you have to decide what you can live with(wire, hooks, whatever) and paint them to match, your vine will use those until it's a big enough thing to cover the whole post. What a garden!
Yes, I think I'm going to try the wire idea to start with. Put some small nails in it and string a fine wire up to the top, maybe cross it both ways and see what happens. The hydrangea will take time but the clematis should be going up and they are not. I'll try the wire with the VC as well and see if it works. Otherwise I will have to do the trellis and I was hoping to avoid the staining and all that if I could.
Thanks for the comments. I am really a garden nut and this has been a blast. We just did this yard last year so it is going to get even more filled in. I want the vines to cover the top to soften the look. It is a big area and could use some greenery on top not to mention give added shade.
You can call me Crazy
Here is another area
another area
waterfall
oops
Truly gorgeous! I am so jealous! So when are you going to come do my yard? LOL Can't wait to see the pics in Sunset!
Thanks for the extra pics, what eye candy you have there!
Just beautiful- so very calm and restful!
As for why the vines won't take- is it made of cyprus? I have a cyprus fence and NOTHING likes to be on it. But that's part of why people choose it- the insects aren't interested in it either... I just didn't realize how many other things didn't like it!
I dropped lines down in some places, and put that bamboo sheeting in others- neither of which will help in your situation, but I thought at least it might be an explanation as to why it was happening.
very gorgeous;)