PRO

Virginia Creeper - advice needed

I have received an email from Chris who is having trouble with his Virginia Creeper. "Hello, I purchased two plants 5 years ago and planted them some distance apart up against the wall of the house. I considered this to be an ideal setting, the wall is brick and the aspect is SW. Predictably, a period of time elapsed before the runners became really active, and at this point my expectation was that they would begin to take advantage of the wall. The runners made every effort to circumnavigate the 'house', but attempts to elevate its self beyond ground level were infrequent. Ultimately I provided some help in an effort to coax this miscreant plant to behave in a more orthodox manner, but with only limited success. It will venture up window frames and other angular features (vertical), but that is all I can expect. The plants resemble a monstrous spaghetti, writhing across the boarders; not an encouraging spectacle. Have you any advice?"
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –
PRO

Phil

Comments

  • Hi,

    A couple of questions to ask - what is the condition of the soil where the virginia creepers are planted and also has the brickwork been treated with anything? I suspect that the brickwork may have been treated with some sort of chemical - that would account for the creepers only clinging to parts of the wall which may have missed the treatment such as the windowframes.

    If this is indeed the case, I don't think you'll find anything that will grow up the wall of its own accord. A solution might be to put in a climbing frame with vine eyes drilled into the brickwork which will keep a climber away from the brickwork - something like Gripple can be very useful and once you have your plant merrily growing away, it's quite unobtrusive. For a Southwest aspect I would go for a couple of Wisteria. If you get the framework right - about 12" between the horizontal lines - you will be able to train the wisterias quite nicely to cover the wall. I won't be quite as quick as the virginia creeper but after some years you'll have a beautiful wisteria all over the house.

    Hope this helps,

    Andy
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Jon Chandler replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"Thanks all for your help and advice.
Great to have the expertise on here as a guide and backup. 🙏"
10 hours ago
Adam Woods replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"Others have ID ed it.
I chop them off at ground level with secutears then spray a drop or two of Praxys on the wound... if it doesnt killt he first time, it will the 2nd or 3rd"
11 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
At the Portugal Invitational, Kress showed turf professionals that unmanned mowing has moved from emerging concept to practical course-management solutionChampionship golf leaves no room for compromise. That's precisely why Kress chose the inaugural…
13 hours ago
Neil Darby replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"If it has thorns it is likely to be a Robinia. I have a client who has a couple of trees 10 or so Metres away & this year they have been popping up all over the lawn. A nightmare tree for anybody who climbs!!!
I have a Gleditsia myself, (my…"
Saturday
Paul Elby replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"As others have said it is a Gleditsia (honey locust), grows very easily from blown in seeds and suckers. Grows fast in hot dry conditions."
Saturday
Graham Taylor replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"There will probably be a tree nearby with the same foliage sending out suckers into your lawn.  You could try spraying them with tryclopyr (SBK brushwood killer will do)  ............. tricky as you don't want to risk damaging the tree they are…"
Friday
Kieran Ray replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"It could definitly be a honey locust sucker but it is more likely to be a Robinina sucker, they can send them up when stressed and ffresh growth can have a purple tinge. "
Tuesday
David Benson replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"eucalyptus tree suckers i have seen them 60-70 yards from the tree "
Aug 18
John F replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"Is it growing off a long sucker from a tree in a nearby garden like sumac trees send out ?"
Aug 18
Dave Colton replied to Jon Chandler's discussion Growth/Shoots in lawn
"Looks very much like a locus tree, young ones do also develop spikes."
Aug 18
Fusion Media posted a blog post
For Guy Woodward, Head Groundsman at Warwick Racecourse, maintaining a safe and consistent racing surface is a year-round challenge. From heavy winter rainfall to prolonged dry spells, the demands placed on a jumps track require products that can be…
Aug 18
Jon Chandler posted a discussion
Hi All, In a cleints garden, I'm having a real problem with these shoots that are coming up in the lawn.I'm digging them out as I go, they are on long roots. they have an oval shape leaf and develop nasty thorns. See pics.Can anyone help identify…
Aug 18
Billybop replied to Graham Mitchell's discussion Gardening & Landscaping Recruitment
"yes I would say to be able to start up a fledgling garden service nowadays, you really need to be in a fairly privileged position to be able to build it up, as your initial earnings won't even touch the sides of the cost of living, let alone the…"
Aug 18
Jon Goves updated their profile
Aug 18
Honey Badger replied to Graham Mitchell's discussion Gardening & Landscaping Recruitment
"As mentioned they are demotivated because of the high cost of living and low wages in comparison.
Yes there's is opportunities they have to fight for them because there is alot of competition.
The entitlement and benfit culture is another different…"
Aug 18
Adam Woods replied to Graham Mitchell's discussion Gardening & Landscaping Recruitment
"Agreed 110% Peter.
That said there are exceptions - you just have to find them"
Aug 18
More…

Growth/Shoots in lawn

Hi All, In a cleints garden, I'm having a real problem with these shoots that are coming up in the lawn.I'm digging them out as I go, they are on long roots. they have an oval shape leaf and develop nasty thorns. See pics.Can anyone help identify…

Read more…
9 Replies · Reply by Jon Chandler 10 hours ago
Views: 286