s0_blessed
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Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 10:52 am
Location: Dubuque, IA

Climber for a retaining wall?

I have a small retaining wall in an awkward place. I want to find a vine or flowering plant to climb the wall. It will have to climb at an angle because the porch is directly under the wall. I'd plant it where the euonymus is currently planted. (I transplanted the euonymus from another place in the garden and it is dying)

The other option is to plant it up above and have it cascade, but there is a quite a distance from the ground to the top of the wall.

Suggestions? I'm very new to gardening, so I have limited knowledge of plants. This wall is on the west side of the house under a 2 story porch with sofet (notice the columns). So it is part shade to part sun probably? It is shady in the morning until the sun passes over the house.


[img]https://angelkisis.webs.com/CIMG0090.jpg[/img]
[img]https://angelkisis.webs.com/CIMG0091.jpg[/img]

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rainbowgardener
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Location: TN/GA 7b

Morning shade and hot afternoon sun is a tough combination, but how about this:

Actinidia kolomitka 'Arctic Beauty' -ORNAMENTAL KIWI. VARIETY: ARCTIC BEAUTY FEMALE & MALE VARIETIES. HARDY TO -40F. 12' - 16' TALL & 5' - 8' WIDE, TRAILING/VINING HABIT. DECIDUOUS VINE THAT GROWS FAST AND PREFERS FULL OR AFTERNOON SUN. BLOOMS CLUSTERS OF SINGLE WHITE FLOWERS IN THE SPRING, PRODUCES MEDIUM FRUIT, IN SUMMER. FOLIAGE IS ATTRACTIVELY MULTI-COLORED. TOLERATES CLAY SOIL.

https://www.garlandnursery.com/vines.html

Trumpet creeper would work, but you would have to SWEAR to keep it pruned and not let it start climbing up your house!

s0_blessed
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Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 10:52 am
Location: Dubuque, IA

Is there a type of rose that would grow on the wall without a trellis and those sun conditions?

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Midwestguy
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Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:43 am
Location: Kansas

That's a problem area. The wall is pretty short, plus that support post is butted right up against the wall. Most climbing vines get pretty tall, and it would most definitely climb that poll if you planted next to the wall. Plus there is no place to plant a vine at the base of the wall, unless you planned on breaking up the concrete. So, you may be better off with something planted on top and cascading down. Many ground covers will cascade down a wall if planted at the wall's top edge. You will also want some taller shrubs behind the ground covers with some medium size perennials in the middle. Here is a link to a web page that gives you a brief lesson on cascading plants down a stone wall. I know your wall is not stone, but it is similar, so the same principles would apply.

https://www.gardenguides.com/94158-cascade-flowering-plants-rock-wall.html



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