Advice on choosing vine for trellis

9 years ago

I'm seeking advice for choosing a vine/plant for the trellis in photo. My top goal is to create a privacy screen as the area behind the trellis is a public paper street. So I would think an evergreen is a must. Furthermore, the area is part shaded (you can actually see the sun setting behind the blue house in photo), and while there is a new 12" base of loam, I have big pine trees nearby so it will get acidic over time. I live in Boston zone 6.

You can see that the trellis is not that tall, so not sure if there are that many vines/creepers that fit all above requirements. I was thinking honey suckle but would that work in acidic soil? Note that I left a little space behind the trellis for planting anything visible from the paper street side.

I'm also open to any other plant suggestions for that garden bed...definitely need some pop of color which the newly renovated backyard is greatly lacking. To the left of the trellis is a larges forsythia.

I hope I didn't make a mistake with the trellis (which is still easy for me to remove)??!! Maybe I should have planted something else to create the privacy barrier (rhododendron?).

All opinions appreciated!

Thanks, Vlad

p.s. In second photo you can see a large mulch bed to right of patch which also requires trellis/privacy screen.

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Coral honeysuckle would do well there. There is red and yellow variety.

A nursery I've just found have many pics and plants to choose from.

Almost Eden. I'm in z5 and the coral does well here.

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Comments (9)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
No suggestions but a few points to consider. Firstly, pine trees won't make the soil acidic. And though you say the trellis is 'not that tall' you don't give us the actual height. Maybe the picture is deceptive but it looks rather low. Is it wooden? And if so how is it fixed in the ground? Is it concreted in or have metposts? To be honest it doesn't look quite straight nor particularly sturdy. Vines get heavy especially when wet and trellis needs to be very solid. Is it treated against rot? Since the trellis is fairly decorative in itself, maybe shrubs in front of it would be best.

btw what is a 'public paper street'.
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
9 years ago
Looks to be about 84 inches?

Whenever I read screen I first think bamboo. Take your picture and weather information over to the Bamboo Forum - GardenWeb - and ask about bamboo in pots for your climate.
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bluesjumper
Original Author
9 years ago
The trellis is western red cedar about 6 feet high. I secured it by attaching rebar to the footings and sinking the rebar into 18' deep fence post holes filled with gravel. I would say it is moderately sturdy...I didn't realize vines can get very heavy.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
I don't think it will hold up, I'm afraid. A wet vine in a high wind could bring the lot down. If it is only 6 feet a Clematis is probably your best bet. The Clematis Forum could probably give you some names.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Other than possibly English ivy, no vine is going to be evergreen in your zone. Clematis could work - if you pick the right cultivar, it will not get too heavy for the trellis and many will tolerate the less than full sun location. Honeysuckle would prefer a lot more sun.

Most clematis varieties need to be pruned annually to some degree but they regrow rapidly in spring back to a substantial size.

ETA: floral and I were posting at the same time :-)
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
Oops - I missed the bit about evergreen being a must. In which case - GG has told you what you need to know.
bluesjumper
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for everyone's feedback. My wife and I are excited about the bamboo idea.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The scientific name for coral honeysuckle AKA trumpet honeysuckle is Lonicera sempervirens. It is a native and nonscented, but it can get large and heavy, so you would want to plan to prune to maintain size and to use a more robust trellis, most likely one made of metal. Mine retains some of its leaves in really mild winters, but it isn't lovely in winter by any stretch of the imagination.

If you want to use a bamboo, use a medium height clumping bamboo rather than running bamboo in pots since they may not survive well outdoors in pots in Boston, even the hardiest types. They may get some die-back in particularly cold winters.

Or choose a type of tall, narrow evergreen shrub and plant several, with the trellis as a backdrop.