There is nothing quite like designing a garden that has climbing plants and vines making their way around it.  A newly designed garden can look a tad bare at times, depending on how well established the plants are and how many of them there are.  But if you add climbing plants to the mix you will soon see the garden develops and takes on a life of its own, as the plants climb and mix in with others that are in the area.

Many landscapers use trellis and other items to break up areas of the garden and provide interest as well.  And of course since climbing plants need some stability and something to climb up, you can solve two issues in one go by letting them climb up the trellis.

As such it is worth considering the use of various climbers as you sketch out your plans for any particular type of garden.  Identify potential points where these plants would do well.  You may not always have to add trellis and other similar items to give them somewhere to climb.  There could already be an arbor in place that you can soften and breathe new life into by training some vines to twirl and entwine around it for example.  Always keep your eyes open to potential areas and possibilities for vines and other similar plants to grow.

Vines can also be ideal if you have garden structures that look a bit stuck out on their own.  Let’s say you have just bought a garden shed and installed it as part of the overall garden plan.  On its own it might look a little out of place.  But if you plant some vines nearby they will eventually scramble up the side of the shed and over the roof.  This can look wonderful and it will soften the look of the shed and make it blend in with the garden more readily as well.

Make sure you plan to use plants that are hardy annuals and come up every year.  Ideally you want those which are lush and green all year round and flower at some point as well.  This can totally transform an area suitable for climbers, and it also prevents you from having an unsightly gap at a particular time of year when the plant dies back.

Another benefit of adding these plants is that you can use them to cover up things that are less desirable in the garden.  A good example is an old tree stump for instance.  The client may not want to pay the money to have it removed, and yet it looks bare and unattractive on its own.  By training ivy to grow around and over it, it can make it look more attractive and more a part of the garden.  As such it can be a focal point for the right reasons instead of the wrong ones.

Whatever you do, don’t discount the benefits offered by climbing plants and vines.

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