April 25th, 2018Which vines are safe for my fence?

Vines are a quintessential way to decorate your fence. Not only are they reminiscent of a romantic fairy tale, they’re the perfect tool for hiding imperfections such as chipped paint or small holes. However, much like the characters in a fairy tale, the vine can be a disguised, poisonous villain. Of the three types of vines, twining, sprawling and clinging, two are safe while the third is a dangerous adversary to your fence.

 

Twining vines

Twining vines come in two forms. The first will wrap its entire stem around most supportive structures.

The other type, like the grape, have small, twining tendrils at the base of their leaves.

These tendrils will also wrap themselves around anything promising support. This kind of vine is safe for your fence.

 

Sprawling vines

The sprawling vine, such as the climbing rose, are heavy, spreading plants. As such, they need the support of a trellis to continue their upwards assent.

These vines will not attach themselves to your fence without assistance and as such, they are safe.

 

Clinging vines

The dangerous, adversary to your fence is the clinging vine. Clinging vines, such as the English Ivy and Virginia Creeper, will attach itself to you fence vigorously. Removing this vine without causing damage is impossible.

The clinging vine will also sneak its way into cracks and crevices in the fence. As the vine enlarges and grows, it will further widen the cracks damaging the structural integrity of the fence. To protect your fence, steer clear of this type of vine.

Despite the danger posed by the clinging vine, the twining and sprawling vines are lovely ways to accent your fence. Even the villainous creeping vine can be tamed when grown a few feet away from the fence on a trellis.

If you’d like to consider other options of fence decoration, check out our blog on updating your fence with a fascinating gate or our blog on decor ideas which will liven up your fence.