I have a problem area, it's called my front yard. It's where the dogs roam, peeing on any semblance of a blade of grass. It's not green; it's not alive; it's not good. There are a few plants that have persisted: box woods, a rose bush, a couple of dogwoods and some English ivy.
The ivy climbs the hoists itself up the front porch, and while there's something nice about the green it adds to the yard, I want it gone. I'm not embarrassed to admit I dream of TKO-ing a plant, nor am I ashamed of lusting after draping my porch in curtains of springtime blooms. I'm just woman enough to admit it.
Why? English ivy is invasive (though in this spot the dogs have kept it under control) and has no value for local wildlife. I want to rip the bully down and replace it with something polite, flowering even. A vine that will root itself well, but climb and cover the iron work while laughing (demurely, since it's so polite and all) in the face of our furry little family members, Wolfgang and Murray. {They mean no harm to my plants, it's just the way it goes with dogs and plants sometimes.}
A few vines native to the east coast of the US that could work in place of the ivy are: Crossvine, American Wisteria, and Coral honeysuckle.
What's with this native talk? The food native vines produce for birds and insects increases the value of the plant, allowing one plant to serve several purposes, while having a climber will allow the feeders to get their nutrients well out of Wolfgang's and Murray's space.
West coast friends seeking climbing companions should try California wild grape, Western white clematis, and Pink or Orange honeysuckle.
Sticking with natives also means that when a bird spreads the seeds to other locations there are other critters around to keep the plant under control. Exotic versions of these same plants don't have the environmental control and will go about their business putting a choke hold on trees and other vegetation that get in its way. If you have any experience with a plant like this, you'll understand the sadistic satisfaction of wiping them out of your yard. . . or maybe that's just me.
Do you have any nemeses in your yard? What's your battle plan? Am I really the only one out there that enjoys ripping out a root or two? What's your deepest plant secret?
Renee
Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish
thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the menu,
you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the
Sneak.
