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AUGUST 31, 2016 Volume 11 • Issue 35

RE WEEKLY STORY COUNTY

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Add charm to a fence with

Climbing plants

By Laura Firszt Networx

Morning Glory The morning glory is a fast growing annual which can reach 15 feet in a single season. Sow morning glory seeds in a 6-inch deep trench, with a scaffolding of string to guide the young plants up your fencing as they sprout. They love sunlight and warmth, so position them beside a fence with a sheltered south or west exposure – and be sure to wait until your soil has warmed up to a temperature of at least 65 degrees F. Your morning glories will reward you with a display of blue, purple, magenta, pink, or white flowers that “magically” open in the sun’s early rays.

F

lower lovers of the world, unite!

If you believe that there is no such thing as too many blossoms, chances are you already have a garden (and perhaps a pergola, balcony, or deck) that is overflowing with bright posies ... yet you still urgently want room for more.

So why not start some plantings that will cover your fence with color? Flowers will add that something extra to the charm of a traditional wooden picket fence and serve to soften even the severest chain link fencing. Here are 5 favorites.

Rose

Wisteria

The rose is a universal favorite in almost any garden setting, so it is a natural to adorn your fence. Although you will need to put in some initial effort (and perhaps a few nails or screws attached to the fence’s support rails) to train a young rose to climb in the direction you’d like, the upside is that these plants won’t dig in to your fencing as many true vines will, thus making them safe to use on any type of fence installation. Another upside, of course, is the amazing abundance of rosebush colors and scents there are to choose from.

One of the most spectacular fence-climbing plants is wisteria, which produces grapelike clusters of lovely white, purple, lilac, or pink blossoms … eventually. Wisteria is notorious for taking its sweet time to acclimate to a new setting enough to bloom. It’s also somewhat persnickety about receiving its fair share of sun, and needs careful pruning. Once it does produce flowers, though, the fragrant results are worth it. Plant wisteria next to a vinyl or metal fence only, since it can easily damage the structure of wooden fencing.

Virginia Creeper

Honeysuckle

Virginia creeper is fantastic for its ability to thrive in a variety of soil conditions and amounts of light. Its leaves are normally a medium green color, but are transformed to a stunning shade of crimson in the fall. To give them a head start as fence cover, attach young plants to your fence with plant ties. Once they are established, they will grow rapidly and you’ll need to prune back their leaves every spring, as well as occasionally scraping their aerial roots out of your fence’s nooks and crannies if it happens to be made of wood.

Honeysuckle is especially well known for its sweet scent, but its pretty, dainty blooms also will add a great deal of appeal to your fence, in shades ranging from palest white through gorgeous golds, sweet pinks, and deep reds.

This perennial prefers sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Plant it in early spring and attach the growing shoots to your fence with stretchy ties (such as strips cut from worn-out T-shirts) that won’t harm the tender young branches. Be prepared for plenty of visits from butterflies and bees.

BIGSTOCK/PHOTOPIN/PIXABAY IMAGES

— Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

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