I've gone and done it...

Bought a Russian Vine.

Now...where shall I plant it? Next to my neighbour's leylandii hedge so it smothers it in one year? :D

 

Actually, it's going in the front garden, against the wall of the house where there's a sturdy trellis it can grow up and the only damage it will cause is probably to us entering and leaving the house!

Much as I am tempted to smother said leylandii hedge, it would probably also choke everything I have in the garden as well...shame though...

 

It doesn't need a sturdy trellis.:wink: It's got the whole of the house and the front garden and the pathway and all the other houses to climb over.:lollol:

 

I have just been reading that things growing on your house are good for it. The article was referring to Ivy, but would apply to others as well. It said that the plants will increase the insulation of the house, making it warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

 

Sounds great . Everything is warmer and cooler while your tiles etc. are being ripped off you roof.:lollol:

 

Hi Aaron

Well, I mean each to his own and all that ... but why on earth do you want the darned thing? I've never felt it had much to recommend it except a preternatural ability to swamp everything in sight. I chanced upon a forum for traumatised owners/neighbours of Russian vines recently. Here is one response to a sufferer's pleas for help:-

They can be a swine to kill, I chopped mine at the base, and poured 3 litres of creosote on the roots, nothing else grew there except you guessed it the flamin russian vine. Try and dig it out, and look for every scrap of root or it will come back and get you!!!!

Enjoy! :rotfl:

 

You all inspire me with such confidence! But the front of the house looks so bare and needs some sort of climber up it. I am also rather adept at hacking back vigourous plants with shears.

I shall report back - I've currently hidden it as OH doesn't know I went to the garden centre (again) yesterday...

 

Oh Aaron. Why not a Parthenocissus or a Wisteria. Much nicer and easier to control?

Chris

 

I actually love Russian Vine! The front of our house is mostly concrete so it will have a job to spread that far.

 

Been thinking about this on the way home from work. Perhaps it might be too much for the front of the house - but not sure what else. I have a Clematis there already, so perhaps another one to join it!

But where do I plant the Russian Vine I already have then??

 

In your worst enemies garden while he's down the pub.:gnthb:

 

You're off yer 'ead Aaron, I love it. I can hand on heart say that I like it too, but smothering someone else's garden, not mine-I have my hands full with my different ivy plants lol.

Remind me, you have ivy don't you :D ? Might be worth considering investing in a good stone to keep your secateurs in tip top condition lol.

 

If creosote won't kill the damn thing, then I think a small nuclear device may be in order too.