Spring/Summer 2012 - The University of Tennessee

Growing Green Fences
By Joan Worley, Blount County Master Gardener
Something there is that
does not love a wall
….” Or a fence. Seethrough
or decorative
fences are one thing, but
high barriers, brick or board,
are manmade incursions on
nature. If for some reason one
has to have a fence, quick,
put something green in front
of it, or better, on it. Hint:
the fastest growing and least
expensive greenery is a vine.
But is there a vine that
doesn’t run rampant in East
Tennessee?
In the interests of finding vines that will hide a stockade
fence, turn the tool shed into a garden ornament, and dress
up a lattice—and yet not eat the house while you are in the
bathroom—we turned to the Knox County Public Library.
“Armitage’s Vines and Climbers: A Gardener’s Guide to the
Best Vertical Plants,” by the University of Georgia’s Allan M.
Armitage (Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2010) offers just the
right amount of factual information, fine photographs, and the
author’s irrepressible personality in print. Its 212 pages cover
115 plants, arranged in alpha order by botanical name, with
common name just beneath. Each write-up includes an often
colorful etymology, hardiness zones, propagation, a discussion
of other species and cultivars, and general advice on the plant
in the author’s engaging, informal style. Most entries are one to
two pages, but the entry on Clematis is 19 and includes more
cultivars than I care to count, many with photographs. The
quality of the photographs, most by the author, is excellent.
Almost all vines are pictured, and wonder of wonders, often
there are photos of several cultivars. At the back of the book
there are helpful lists, charts and indexes.
In his introduction, Armitage says of invasives, “Yes, I have
included plants that the more militant wing of native plant groups
will be upset about.” Absent, however, is the rapacious Euonymus
fortunei (wintercreeper) that has metastasized in my yard.
“Ortho’s All About Vines and Climbers,” by R. William Thomas,
is a basic primer with more how-to’s, fewer pages, and a useful
guide to about 50 vines. E. fortunei is covered, but with no
mention of its horrible habit. “Generally a slow grower but
vigor varies with the cultivar.” Ha. “Climbing Gardens,” by
Joan Clifton, and “Living Fences,” by Ogden Tanner, are lovely
books of Canadian origin. Both are focused more on design than
individual plants, with photos of vines in the landscape. Neither
mentions the perils of wintercreeper.
Finally, William Cullina’s “Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines: A
Guide to Using, Growing and Propagating North American
Woody Plants,” is 353 pages long, covering almost a thousand
plants. This book was published under the aegis of the New
England Wild Flower Society. Because of that word native, you
will not find sweet potato, Mandevilla, black-eyed Susan, and
many another familiar vine. Again by definition, wintercreeper
(native to China) is excluded.
Among the book’s notable features are the best introduction
I’ve ever seen in any horticultural book, which, praise the Lord,
defines terms (native, for one); an attractive, colorful format; a
“native to” note with every entry, which includes climate and
terrain as well as state(s), and region; and how to pronounce
every Latin plant genus. The alphabetical plant descriptions are
practical and interesting, and like “Armitage’s Vines,” they are
written with a light, sometimes humorous touch. “Native Trees”
gets five stars, but remember, it’s just about plants that were here
before Columbus.
There are still more books on vines, but you’ll need to look long
and hard before you find one to rival Armitage. He has lots of
ideas for your fence.
Right Here: Plants That Thrive in East Tennessee
“Right Here: Plants That Thrive in East Tennessee” is a 75-page book describing some 60 plants, all tested by Blount County Master
Gardeners in their home gardens. The voices on the page range from a hum to a holler—some are funny, some cut and dried, some
inspirational. The purpose is "to present tried and true, bulletproof plants that have proven themselves in our gardens ..." Color
photographs by some graphically talented Master Gardeners are included in the book. Copies are available for a donation of $10
from the Extension office (865-984-6430) and from several garden centers in Blount, Knox and Loudon counties. Call the Extension
office for the garden center nearest you.
10 | Spring/Summer UT Gardens Magazine