Vines for Shade
You have probably already begun to think about how vines might be used to soften your garden structure and create more shade. Vines also add their own individual beauty to the garden. Many flower, and some have fragrant flowers. A few produce edible fruit. All can shelter an area from the wind and make it more private. All can mask a harsh wall or a graceless structure. Most are fast growers that provide shade and other benefits far faster than most trees.
Following are two lists: first, deciduous and annual vines, then evergreen vines, with brief descriptions and enough information to let you decide which vines would be right for your shade structure. The obvious advantages of an evergreen vine, particularly in a mild climate where the garden is used much of the year, are permanent greenery, privacy, and shelter from wind and sun. Not surprisingly, most evergreen vines are hardy only in the warmer zones. A deciduous or annual vine, on the other hand, creates a pleasant sense of seasonal change and sometimes provides brilliant autumn color. And even more important, it admits light in winter and makes shade in summer.
Whatever vine you choose, follow these guidelines: Don’t buy a root-bound vine that has been too long in its nursery can. Plant the vine in the same way you would plant a shrub or a tree, but dig an especially deep and wide hole—even 3 feet by 3 feet, if possible. Fertilize and water regularly, and prune to shape the vine and control its spreading.
