| How do I get my Virginia Creeper to climb sideways: it is vigorously growing *up* the concrete block wall in my USDA 9 garden. But I want it to spread *along*, *sideways* and eventually cover the wall - which is much longer than it is high! I have tried gently taping shoots growing upwards down and 'sideways' but after a day or two they grow back upwards. Thanks! |
| Your Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a vigorously growing vining plant. As such, the vines will naturally grow up, no matter how often you try to coax them into growing in a horizontal direction. (It's a genetic thing... plant hormones responding to gravity and light.) Eventually, side shoots will develop from the main vines and these will be happy growing sideways, for a time, anyway. You can encourage the development of these side shoots by pinching out the tips of the main vines. |
