Save Energy Naturally: The Surprising Benefits Of Growing Vines
They told us to never plant vines next to a house. But what if they're wrong?
Hi Gardenerds,
When I started researching this edition of Let’s Nerd Out About Gardening, the artic vortex was sweeping across Canada, bringing the lowest temperatures in thirty years to my prairie city.
It was so cold that my window locks and front door peephole froze over.
So what on earth got me thinking about how to keep houses cool in the summer?
A house across the street went up for sale. The price was reasonable (luckily, housing prices in my city haven’t gone crazy like everywhere else), and, amazingly, featured a double lot. That’s a whole separate lot just for gardening on the south side of the house.
Which also meant that the whole south side of the charcoal-colored house was exposed to sun during the height of summer.
I have heat sensitivity, which means that anything above room temperature sucks the life out of me. During the summer’s heat, I can’t function as a person without an AC. But I know how much of an impact ACs have on the environment. While I’m renting, there’s very few physical changes I can make. I can use heavy duty thermo-insulated curtains, but that also means I say goodbye to most of the light I’d otherwise be able to get in a day.
But if you own a house, you have more options. You can plant a deciduous tree that shades the house during the afternoon. You could install an outdoor green wall. Or you can use one of the oldest horticultural ideas — plant vines.
(There’s a reason why so many historic buildings have vines crawling up them.)
Something to learn…
If you’ve ever gone from inside a city to the countryside outside during the summer, you’ll find a noticeable drop. Cities are hot, and with summer temperatures skyrocketing, they’re going to get even hotter. And there’s not a lot of space to grow trees.
Growing vines and living walls have a lot going for them. They:
Absorb sound, making it quieter inside your house. (I also have sound sensitivity, so this is a major one for me. But even if you’re not, cities are getting louder and they do affect your mental health.)
Improve energy efficiency. They limit the movement of heat between building walls. If you plant them around HVAC units, the cooler air outside will decrease the energy required to cool the air inside.
Insulate during the winter (if you have woody vines). Some vines like clematis and hops die to the ground, but if you have a vine that sticks around during the winter, it will still add some insulation, making it easier to heat. Which, while we’re in an arctic vortex, sounds heavenly. Temperatures won’t drop so easily.
Improve air quality. Like most plants, they take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, and can intercept some pollutants. Every bit helps!
Fit into spaces where trees can’t. Maybe your south-facing wall is right against an alley, and you don’t want to plant a tree right at your foundation. You only need a foot of soil in order to grow vines. Just make sure that it’s water-wise. You don’t want to be watering right next to your foundation.
Improve biodiversity. If you don’t have room for a bird’s favorite shrubs or trees, you can still provide food through specific vines. You also provide more shelter for beneficial insects.
Vines have an advantage over living walls. Living walls are intensive to maintain. You need to be able to water and prune them. Many large walls use a mechanical nutrient hydroponic system. Buying a system is expensive. Meanwhile, vines just live in the ground. Sure, they need water and pruning, but they’re still much easier to care for. And the vines are going to be less expensive to buy than a whole living wall system.
Something to read…
Ask Mr Smarty Pants: Are vines harmful to bricks and mortar?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Aren’t vines (especially ivy) supposed to destroy exterior walls? Shouldn’t we be vehemently against growing vines on the wall? Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center explains why that’s not actually the case (for the most part).
Could Vines Be the Answer to Speeding Urban Cooling, Water Reduction in the West? by Emily C. Dooley
Researchers at UC Davis are heading a 3 year study on the cooling effects of vines. They grow much quicker than trees and they need less water. They also look great.
Ivy keeps buildings cooler and less damp, research shows, by Royal Horticultural Society
A study by the RHS and the University of Reading have discovered that three common vines in Britain (Common ivy, Boston ivy, and climbing hydrangea) can cool air temperatures inside and outside a building by 10C, with common ivy being the most effective. They also keep houses less humid during the winter.
The True Story of Kudzu, the Vine That Never Truly Ate the South
If you drive anywhere in the southern US, you’ll find eerie scenes of plant-swallowed telephone poles and old cars. Long thought to be an incredibly invasive species destroying the biodiversity of the south, conservationists are now re-analyzing the environmental impact of Kudzu. Yes, you see it everywhere along the highways, but does it actually swallow whole forests?
Is the boom in green roofs and living walls good for sustainability?
Corporations are shelling out big money for new buildings with green roofs and living walls, but are they actually helping the planet? Yes and no. Will Ing explores what does help and what doesn’t — including the unintended benefits.
of reminds us of the difference it makes between planting something for the future, and making things easy now, with the help of a hydrangea vine.What Makes Climbing Plants Climb?
This article explains the five types of climbing plants, including some studies that researchers have used to figure this out. Did you know that one twining vine could support 600 grams of weight, while a twine could only support 40 grams before breaking?
While less expansive on the actual methods, Leonard Weber includes a lot of really good photos of tree-climbing vines in Eliza Howell Park in Detroit.
of shares her decade-long journey of growing grape vines over a pergola.Your turn: Have you ever grown vines on your house? What is your experience? Would you recommend it?
Let us know in the comments!
(I read each and every comment, although I may not respond right away.)
Happy gardening,
Tanith
P.S. Here is your fortnightly giggle!
I love vine plants, from ivy and Virginia creeper to morning glories. But my neighbors often frown at how aggressive these climbers can be. I had to give up on covering an old pear tree with Boston ivy, but that’s fine with me. I care about our neighborhood—it feels like an ecosystem, and I wouldn’t want my bold garden design to make anyone uncomfortable...