I was looking for a plant to cover my ugly front deck

My front deck is functional but ugly. I just purchased a Virginia Creeper (in a little pot), thinking it would be perfect to cover the rails and lattice work. The seller had a beautiful arbor covered in it. It was lovely! However, after reading the thread about the creeper, I'm scared! It seems lovely, but I am afraid it is going to take over my entire lot. I have less than an acre of space and I live in the burbs.
I just went out and rubbed a leaf over the top of my hands to see if I have an allergic reation. I'm not sure. I feel a bit itchy, but I think it could be psychosemantic, if you know what I mean! lol
Anyway, I need a plant that's not so invasive that it will take over my wild flowers and vegetable gardens, but will calmly make its way up my deck, approx. 6' high and 24' long and stay there lovingly, providing berries for the birds (I love wildlife, as long as it doesn't interfere! Such as hypocrite, eh?!) and asthetics for me and not be harmful to anyone. Like I said, I thought I had it, but now I don't. Any suggestions?
Peace,
Ann Marie
PS -- I'm really not such a hypocrite, I do love wildlife. In fact, I'm just about to go out and use my urine to deter the deer from eating my peas and everything else in my gardens. Should be harmless and I have marked my territory. So primal...

Hi Africanannebee, not too sure what would be good for your situation in canada, as I have a sister-in-law living in Thunderbay, and she cant grow half the things I can due to the heavy freeze in winter, so maybe you could consider some of the anual climbers and if you can get them started indoors say Feb/March, they would have a good long season and be well on there way befor planting them out in May onwards,
the good thing about annual plant is that you can change your mind the next year if you fancy a change, but prob best to get down to your local librery to get some good books on plants for your area and the situation you wish to cover, some of the Canadian folks who use this forum will be able to name some plants that will tolerate the cold winters, so good luck, just dont give up, something will click and your porch will look just fine, even just a change of paint colour can cheer something up, not that I am saying the paint work needs doing, even some hanging baskets or tubs and pots can help if you dont find a climber. good luck. WeeNel.

I hid my ugly but functional deck by planting a mix of evergreen & deciduos shrubs along the foundation. I added perennials to fill it out.
PS. the blue cups on sticks are deer repellent "stink bells."

Hi Daphnecat, your border/bed looks wonderfull, think it should do the same job for AfricanAnneBee, I am so interested in the deer deterant bells, can you give me a company name pleases as I have always had a prob with deer in my garden, can usually cope with it, but this year has been really bad, two stags fighting as it is about into the rutting season and they are literly tearing my shrubs and trees appart by rubbing the bark off, as deer do, but boy, they are really getting agressive this year, we also have the fawns around right now and they are at the cute Bambie stage, but DAD is on drugs or something, so be greatful for the place where I can send away for the deterant, thanks. WeeNel.

WeeNel: Deterant is home made & works really well. I use 12 oz. plastic cups, Irish Spring soap bars cut in half. Some say Lifeboy works too. Too assemble, put 1/2 soap bar in cup, slip nylon knee-hi over cup and tie tightly at the top. Hang cup upside down, tie to a stick or stake, deer nose high, with remaining knee-hi. The cup keeps the soap dry and the stocking keeps it from falling out. During the summer, I also spray the "tastiest" plants with Liquid Fence. In the winter, I use garlic clips.

What about Roses?

Honeysuckle.

I doubt that Virginia Creeper would grow to the invasive point where you are. I have friends in the northern tier of the US states who are quite happy with the manners that theirs have.

Down here, it's another matter...it's a thug that is impossible to control.

Moonflower or Hyacinth Bean Vine.

Nice try, AABee, but I am told it takes a guy to mark territory to protect it from deer. It has something to do with testosterone, I believe.

Hi AfrikanAnniebee,

I just got back from an annual trip to East Lake Ainslie on Cape Breton and we drove right through lovely Truro. East Lake Ainslie is zone 5a and I have 2 friends with fabulous gardens there. Here are some of the plants they grow that I can remember: grape hyacinth, primroses, stargazer lilies, trumpet vine, roses, phlox, lupines (of course ;), jackmani clematis and other clematis varieties; for bushes they use scottish broom, peony, rhododendruns, azaelea's; and for annuals they have some violets and sweet william that keeps re-seeding themselves each year; and for veggies they grow tomatoes (tomatoes would look pretty growing across your front porch), peppers, corn, potatoes, garlic, onions, leeks, broccoli, lettuce, herbs, carrots and radish. That's about as much as I can remember. Good luck and let us know what you decide on growing! :)

I agree with lafko06, I immediately saw Clematis vines, ..... I have a jackmani with thousands of beautiful deep purple blooms. I think I want to get a white one next.
Virginia creeper in my opinion is messy.
I would probably plant something else with it though, because they bloom for a long period of time, but die off in the middle of summer.

Climbing blackeyed Susan vine or cypress vine would be pretty against your gray house. Both are annuals and reseed themselves each year. Hummers love the cypress vine too.

Be careful, hyacinth vine seeds are poisonous. If you put it right up on your porch like that, a little kid could easily grab a pod and pop it in their mouth before you know it.

Sojourner

Although there have been many beautiful vines noted here, I have to point out that during the long, cold winter, you'll be staring at the ugly, naked, dead-vine coverd deck. You really should consider something more year-round architechural, like shrubs, for the backdrop, and grow vines in between them for color in the summer.

Depends on your taste. I like the vines even in the winter - they're SUPPOSED to look like that in winter.

Every house has shrubby things shoved up against the foundation. Dare to be different! LOL!

Sojourner

I'm with you sojourner, I like the look of my plants during the winter, especially when they are frozen in glistening ice or when there is a snow covering them. For my vines though, I pull them down after they bloom because they look ratty on my arbor and I then I save the seeds for next year. Speaking of saving seeds, I just realized I left a bag of lupine seeds I took home from Canada on the deck and it rained today. :(

Good point, my jackmani clematis looks dead in the winter, I just planted an autumn sedum in front of it so I could look it in the winter.. ha ha

I agree that "shrubby things shoved up against the foundation" is ugly. It's sad to see how many people haven't a clue how to select and site shrubs, let alone prune them. But AfrikanAnnieBee's front deck is a prime location for a mixed border with year 'round interest. ABSOLUTLY, DARE TO BE DIFFERENT! Express yourself and be the envy of your street. I have the same situation with a deck on the front of my house which extends down 1 side to the "front" door." I think she can do a lot more than just vines snaking up the front.

Just to demonstrate: Spring begins with several evergreen rhododendrons blooming. Just when they pass their peak, red azaelas in the front and 3 magenta/1 white on the side take over the show. The next shrubs to bloom are hydrangeas, 1 blue in front and 1 red on the side. Right now the hibiscus has center stage flanked by evergreen euonymus with their tiny white flowers, soon to be followed by clethera anifolia "butterflies" on the side. Although the variagated Acuba has unremarkable blooms, its leaves light up a shady area which otherwise would be dull. From spring till fall, this parade of "shrubby things" is supported by a cast of blulbs and perennials. Lilly of the valley, allium, dicentra, iberis, peony, butterfly weed, daylillys, tickseed coreopsis, iris, astilbe and hosta, just to name a few.

And, alas, when summer is over and the prennials are brown and crunchy, it's the "shrubby things" that keep the spirit of my deck garden alive until the show repeats the following summer. Your selections don't need to be exotic, expensive or rare. It's what you do with what you have to work with that makes the statement of who you are. Go all out, AfrikanAnnieBee!

daphnecat, your show sounds beautiful!! I am in Forked River, if you know of any garden clubs or groups that share seeds and plants, I'd love to get involved!!! My garden is just starting, It used to be great until I had my son 6 years ago, then neglect set in! Now I am starting anew, don't have much yet, but each year I add more! Since we are in thye same area, maybe we can share ideas????

KtsGarden,
I seem to always have "homeless" plants that need asombody to love them. You can email me at:
kmhumes@comcast.net

It depends on your point of view also. I don't prune any of my shrubs. I planted them in spots, including along the foundation, but where they can grow to their full potential. I also only use indigenous (with some non-native viburnums thrown in), and in zone 5a, there are no native azaleas or rhododendrons. Indigenous conifers are just to large for this property.

Hiya Terry, ;)

There are absolutely azaleas and rhodo's in 5a. I have plenty of azalaeas and I used to grow rhodo's at my old house and I could grow them here in 5a, but I don't like them anymore. Check it out at your garden centers and you can get them cheaply at Home Depot and Walmart in the spring. :)

What terryr said is that there aren't any native rhodies/azaleas in zone 5. There are plenty of non-native ones that you can grow though, that's what you're finding at HD, Walmart, etc.

Here are some natives that grow here:

Rhododendron viscosum, the Swamp Azalea (deciduous azalea)
Rhododendron periclymenoides, the Pinxterbloom azalea (deciduous azalea)
Rhododendron prinophyllum, the Roseshell azalea (deciduous azalea)
Rhododendron canadense, the Rhodora (deciduous azalea)
Rhododendron maximum, the Rosebay rhododendron (large leaf)
Rhododendron lapponicum the Lapland rhododendron (small leaf)
Rhododendron groenlandicum the Labrador tea (small leaf)

None are indigenous to my county and none of them are evergreen which is another point I was trying to make.

Hi again Ter,

Yup, they aren't evergreen and they are indigenous to New England, where I live. Anyhoo, it's nice we all get to learn and share with each other and make new friends who can help us learn. What I wish is that AfrikanAnnie would come back and share with all of us if she made any decisions on what to do this year, or if she waiting until next, lol! I think we all shared great ideas. That is what makes Dave's so great and fun! We learn, we share, we are kind and we are all nice!!!!

GL AF, let us know what you decide on doing there! :)

Lucky you! I would love it if they were indigenous here and that I had the type of soil they prefer. I think she's been given some good ideas too. I checked and she's not a subscriber. So perhaps she's forgotten she posted the question ;)

Ohhh okay Terry, that makes sense since she doesn't subscribe. You are so right, we all gave a bunch of great ideas, hopefully she gets to use them.

Sorry Gals and Guys,
Been on vacation! I actually have been doing a lot of repair in my yards and as of yet, the Creeper is still sitting in its pot. I really like Daphnecat's idea about going for it and daring to be different, that is so who I am. So, I have to think about all the different plants that have been suggested and one's that grow in my zone (5b) and make a plan.
Is it too late to start planting now? I think it is.
I would be looking for plants that take minimal effort to maintain. I kind of just let things grow and survival of the fittest, which is why I was a little worried about the Creeper.
Anyway, it is so interesting to hear everybody's way cool ideas and thoughts.
Really do appreciate it!
Will send pic when done!
Peace,
AfrikanAnnieBee

Hello
Daphnecat your garden description is a "visual" delight!! Many of the plants/shrubs you named are my favorites but deer buffet for sure and no amount of urine - male or not - is going to help. But it sure was nice imagining it all!

Hi Annie,
Fall planting is actually very beneficial for many plants. Put them in the ground after the real heat of summer is gone (do y'all actually get heat up there, LOL?) Mulch them well and water until you start getting winter rain (or snow). They will be busy putting down roots until the ground freezes. Then they will get the earliest possible start in the spring. For me down here in the deep south, it's easier on plants to be put out in the fall. I can put out almost anything here--not exactly sure about up there where you are. I'm sure someone at your nursery can tell you.

Hi Annie-

I second (or third?) the comments about mixing it up; there's no reason why "foundation planting" has to consist of a bank of one plant. But you asked about vines, so here goes. I'm kind of a clematis fiend (even though it's a tad dull after blooming); you don't have to worry about it getting aggressive and the flowers are spectacular. Not a great wildlife plant, though (the native sweet autumn clematis might be better than the exotics, but it's less spectacular). Another good vine, which hummingbirds like, is the native honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens. I'm not sure you can grow the fragrant (and invasive) Japanese honeysuckle there. I honestly can't think of a vine with good bird berries; they like porcelain vine but it's nastily invasive (there's a theme here: namely, a lot of vines are really aggressive). Maybe the native bittersweet? (The Asian is--can you guess?--very invasive.)

Sorry for the logorrhea--I'm a new poster!

FYI, If you do go with Clematis virginiana, the native fall blooming clematis sometimes to referred to as sweet autumn, please make sure you get the virginiana and not the invasive Clematis ternifolia. The native Clematis virginiana is most often referred to as Virgin's Bower Clematis. The Clematis virginiana can be grown along the porch, on a trellis or obelisk, and often times it trails and find the plant beside it. Mine is on an obelisk and has traveled over and is on the viburnum (with berries) and blooming it's fool head off. Bees love it, so in that respect, it's good for wildlife...lol.

I am a subscriber!

Paid your dues, did you? Congratulations and welcome to DG!!

Afrikan,
I don't know what part of Canada you are in, but I'am 60 miles from Canada and I know alot of people around here that have virginia creeper on their fences. My mom has one growing up her porch. It doesn't spread everywhere. She also has a trumpet vine growing up her porch and it is beautiful. I have read that it is invasive. My moms has never had a runner, and stays in place. We are in zone 4-5. Closer to 5.

I think your porch would look good with 3 of the same clematis in front so it would look full and your virginia creeper on the back of it. But I'am partial to clematis. You have a nice porch design to work with. DM

What did you finally decide on?

Well, I haven't totally decided.
But I think I'm going to go with some different plants, named here, that will bloom throughout the summer and fall. Some clematis I think. Also, I think some nice flowering shrubs, though I swore I would never have a shrub! lol
I suspect this will be a project for next year.
I will however send a pic when all is said and done.
Thanks and Peace,
Afrikan Annie Bee

How about Jasmine. I love them, they will grow really fast and can stand the winters here. They stay green all year and they grow fast but don't take over. They are pretty easy to control,. I also have a deck like yours and that's what I did. It stays covered all year