Firstly, thanks so much for taking the time to read!
My partner and I are currently planning our build and we have ALWAYS been obsessed with buildings covered in vines or creepers!
Our building material is Hemp Crete (non negotiable). We need to re-render the walls every 7 years, thus, so need to be able to get behind the creeper somehow!
We were thinking of constructing a series of 1-2 metre mesh, or steel grates that would sit in front of the walls leaving about 5-10 cm's between wall and grate! We would then maybe unhook the grate from the top and lean it off the wall 30-40 degrees, then resting it on a ladder or something to render behind it!
Alternatively are there creepers that would keep well in pots to these sizes that could be suspended onto the grate/mesh and then we could open them out like a gate. Creating easy access to render the wall and no need to worry about bending the stem/trunk!
Any suggestions to somehow to make this whole thing easier would be wonderful as we really want to make our creeper dreams come true just don't know how!
Plant wise - something suitable to North facing, 5-6 frosts per year, all day sun apart from late afternoon! We will be building in Reedy Creek near Broadford Victoria!
Id love to avoid the pot scenario as I don't think they would look as nice aesthetically
Renee and Jamie
Creeper Dreaming / Malleable vines
Discussion
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Firstly Renee I’m gobsmacked by the revelation that you have to rerender every 7 years…is that even an option? I suggest vines that will resprout easily when cut to the grown. I can’t think of any that won’t do that. Is it an option to grown something that will cling and hold the hempcrete surface together instead? Ps are you sure about the need to replace the render…I’m horrified as we are planning to use hempcrete for our new place!
I’m with Moira. I just don’t get that!
As for staying away from pots, but doesn’t just make aesthetic sense. climbers never grow particularly happily in them, which isn’t surprising when you think about how much foliage a vigorous climber can carry, and therefore the drain on water supplies in the pot!. I think that your frame idea would work, though I can only imagine that you’ll only be able to tilt the frame back, and that it’ll be impossible to get a ladder between the frame and the wall. But if you think of a way of doing it, just make sure that it’s not a self-clinging climber. Stay away, for instance, from stuff like Virginia creeper or Boston ivy.
But how about avoiding the walls altogether, and creating pergolas or cantilevered brackets from which climbers could drape without impacting the walls. Throughout France I’ve seen brackets that attach to the walls at or just below fascia level, providing a couple of wires running parallel with the wall, sitting no more than 50 or 60 cm away from the wall. The end result is a kind of verdant, ‘eyebrow’ along each wall, and over doors and windows
Hi Renee,
I’d suggest reaching out to a professional that has some experience with green facade’s as they may be able to offer some advice. I’m not sure where you’re based, but I’ve always found Fytogreen very helpful, and they have some good resources on their website.
I attended a recent webinar of theirs through AILDM, which discussed some of these issues. One factor that was also discussed was flammability. More so in relation to materials that the planters were being made of, and how these have had to change with updated industry regulations, so HDPE is no longer appropriate. Flammability, of not only the structure, but the plants themselves, may be a consideration if you are in a bushfire overlay, and may affect your BAL rating. Just something else to consider.
Perhaps deciduous trees that can offer some shade to those walls may be a more practical option for passive solar, or choosing a construction material that can have climbers adhere to it.
Plants that may be suitable for large growth, and don’t mind being cut back, and frosts, include Clematis species, Hops, grapevines, wisteria. All of these are twining climbers, rather than self-clinging. Best of luck with your project!
My first thought was hops. They grow like the clappers from early spring onwards, reach their peak in late summer and slowly fade into autumn, no autumn colour to speak of though.
Of all the twining climbers hops are one of the easiest to maintain, most of the twining stems dry out and fall apart over winter, with the remainder easily just pulled off. They’re best in the ground, but they have a great advantage of literally bolting straight up – they’ll even happily cling to a single piece of rope suspended from a height, which could make them easy for your situation, no need for huge amounts of infrastructure.
I have one growing up a north facing facade on my house, it’s a doddle to grow and always sparks a conversation when they flower. There’s even a golden one, Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’, that’s proper golden and looks great.