Van Bourgondien

Plants as Camouflage

We tend to think of vines as something that climb a trellis. But actually, they are a lot more versatile than that. They can trail down walks to soften them. They can act like ground covers in areas where you don't want to mow, or where for some reason grass won't grow. Some types will happily ramble through your shrubs, adding flowers where nothing has ever bloomed before. And yes- they also do climb, which not only makes a romantic picture when they are seen clambering over an arbor, but which is also a great way to create a fast screen to hide an ugly view from your window – or to hide an ugly area of your own yard from site.

Ivy is a great groundcover for shady areas where grass won't grow. It will spread quickly into a soft carpet of green – and you don't ever have to take your mower near it. Most of us have seen this used to good effect on steep slopes that are difficult to mow, as well.

But did you know that you could do the same thing with clematis or honeysuckle, or even trumpet vine (if you want to cover a lot of ground fast! ? Simply let them grow naturally, sending their shoots out along the ground rather than upward. They are perfectly content to grow that way, and will act as a groundcover happily. The advantage to these over traditional ground covers is that they are easy to lift out to the way when you need to weed. Clematis may have sent out tendrils that will bind one length of vine to another, but as a whole, you can fling them back like a blanket, hoe out the weeds quickly and replace. There isn't a more accommodating plant form than these vines when it comes to easy weeding. And it sure is better than having a lot of bare ground where grass refuses to grow.

Vines are also great for covering unsightly views. Slap up some lattice – or even a chain link fence and allow the vine to grow up it. It will cover ugly chain link fence and turn it into a feature, which is an achievement all by itself. But when it covers the lattice or chain link, instead of seeing the neighbor's unkempt yard or a view of the garbage cans you'll be looking at a lovely wall of greenery. Double duty camouflage!

Of course you have other options than vines for hiding some areas of your yard that you may find less than beautiful. Shrubs are excellent at creating a screen. I have a friend who created a garden "room" using buddleia at the back of the beds. It would be an open garden in late winter when she cut them back to allow for new growth, but by midsummer, those plants would be tall and massed with flowers that attracted butterflies and hummingbirds like mad. A secret garden created through shrubs. Of course you don't need a whole wall if all you want to do is black the view of the garbage cans or an air conditioner unit. One or two will suffice.

Lilacs are equally effective – and have such a wonderful fragrance when they are in bloom!

There are also many tall perennials and tropical bulbs that will create a quick camouflage for problem areas – although many are only effective when in bloom. But if you know that you will be having a garden party in July and August, the b.hollyhocks will be flowering and can screen out anything less that 4' tall.

Cannas are even better – some grow from 5-6' tall, with tall, board leaves that can be an effective screen during the summer months.

For a longer lasting screen, try ornamental grasses. Feather Reed grass 'Karl Foerster' gets up to 5' high and will screen most things for most of the year. Usually it's customary to cit it down in late winter to make room for new growth – but they get tall again in no time. So for ten months out of the year you have a living screen that sways gently in the wind and provides winter interest.

In shadier areas of the yard you can use Ostrich ferns to screen out things you'd rather hide. The ferns can get from 4-5' tall and their lacy beauty means you get a pleasant view while it hides whatever it is you don't want to see. This fern does go winter dormant – but who's worrying about an unsightly view in the dead of winter? They will be there when you need them – during the times when you are outdoor the most.

The point is that your plants can be more than simply garden ornaments or things to stick in vases. By carefully choosing the right ones, you can mask a view, create a room within your yard, or simply hide a few small necessary areas of the yard that interfere with your visual pleasure.

Double duty plants can double your pleasure!