FAQ: We want to cover walls with evergreen plants to hide the brick.

Q. We have an outside patio behind our house and we want to cover two of the house walls around the patio with an evergreen plant, just to hide the brick that's pretty old. Is Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) a good plant for that? Will it destroy the brick wall? Should we run some fishing nylon strings on the wall so that plants' roots attach to the nylon instead of the wall? Or would you recommend another plant altogether?  We're in New York.

A. Creeping Fig wouldn't survive the winter in your area. It is cold-hardy to USDA climate zone 8. You are in climate zone 7. When I visited Washington Irving's home - Sunnyside - in Tarrytown a few years back, I was impressed by the wisteria and trumpet creeper that had overgrown it, but I personally wouldn't recommend the wisteria. 

Photo of Trumpet Creeper roots

Trumpet creeper is a possibility. My wife insisted on planting a Campis radicans (Trumpet creeper) against a wall. It also attaches by little roots, but I've been able to pull juvenile vines off the wall without damage to the wall. Mature vines leave some of their roots attached.

Boston ivy is often used to cover walls of buildings and highway sound barriers, but it is a species of Parthenocissus which has little discs at the ends of modified roots that look like suction cups. They vines are very difficult to remove from a wall once attached (if you ever decide to remove the vine). It is deciduous.

Hedera helix (English ivy and such) produces little roots that find cracks and crannies in the wall and worm their ways into them. This can cause damage when removing the ivy.

Arctic Kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta) is a beautiful vine and produces edible fruits, but it is deciduous. Five-leaf Akebia (Akebia quinata) could be a good choice, but is deciduous. So are many of the other vines popular in your area such as hops, clematis, trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens which is evergreen in the south but probably not in the north), climbing hydrangea, Schizophragma, etc.

One option would be to plant a climber next to your wall, let it grow and don't plan on pulling it off. Growing on the wall doesn't necessarily harm it; pulling it off does. After all these years, Sunnyside is still standing. Maybe the vines are holding it up.

Now that I'm thinking about it, you might consider a shrub or tree espalier to cover the walls.

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They don't call it Prickly Pear for nothin'.

Photo of Prickly Pear cactus flower

Opuntia ficus-indica (aka Smooth Mountain Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus, Tuberous Prickly Pear, Nopal) is a perennial, evergreen cactus probably native to Mexico, but is found growing in many arid, warmer climates around the world. It grows from 4 to 20 feet tall, depending on growing conditions. It forms clumps of flattened pads, which are actually modified stems. Its pads are medium to grayish green. Clusters of sharp hairs known as glochids appear on the pads. The flowers are bright yellow, lasting for only one day. Fruit is pear-shaped, fleshy, and purple when mature. The pulp is reddish-purple with tiny, brownish seeds.

 

Opuntia ficus-indica fruit

Opuntia likes dry, well-drained, and sandy to rocky soil. It prefers full sun, tolerates heat and some cold, and will take some light shade.

The plant is cultivated for its fruits and pads which are used for food, medicine, condiments and beverages. Foods include nopalitos, prickly pear honey, prickly pear cheese, colonche – a fermented drink. Medicinal uses are said to include tea for kidney disease, flower paste for measles, and cancer treatment.

Prickly Pear has also been used for cattle feed. Large hedge-rows have been used for fencing, marking boundaries, and discouraging intruders.

Name(s): Opuntia ficus-indica, Smooth Mountain Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus, Tuberous Prickly Pear, Nopal

Flower Color: Yellow.

Bloom Time: Spring

Foliage: Succulent, paddle/pear-shaped modified stems.

Height/Spread: 4 feet to 20 feet x 5 to 10 feet.

Climate Zones: 8, 9, 10

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Condition: Well-drained to dry, pH 6.1 to 7.7

Features: Drought tolerant, sculptural form, large yellow flowers, edible fruit and foliage.

Uses: Xeriscaping, succulent gardens, edible gardens, medicinal gardens, rock gardens, home security.

Comments: When planted as a hedge, Prickly Pear makes one helluva barrier against intruders. Planted around the home they are superb for homeland security.

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Ten Simple Landscaping Ideas for Home/Land Security

Homeland security is in the news every day, but the problems seem so far away. Beside, we never expect violence in our own backyards. 

Don’t think it can’t happen to you. 

According to the FBI “there were an estimated 1,579,527 burglaries in 2015. Burglaries of residential properties accounted for 71.6 percent of all burglary offenses. Victims of burglary offenses suffered an estimated $3.6 billion in property losses in 2015. The average dollar loss per burglary offense was $2,316.”

Most residential burglaries happen during the day when homeowners are away. There are more break-ins during summer months. The majorities are forced entry, but unlocked windows and doors make it easier.

Top items targeted are cash, electronics, jewelry, medications, firearms, tools, liquor, documents that facilitate identity theft, cars, bikes and such.

That’s scary. But did you know there are simple landscaping steps you can take to improve your home security against intruders?

Here are ten safety precautions:

1. Choose low-growing foundation and border shrubs.
2. Prune foundation shrubs to 3 feet high.
3.  Use thorny plants for hedges, near windows and entrances.
4. Avoid planting tall shrubs near garage and other entrances.
5. Avoid planting trees next to the house.
6. Do not construct sturdy trellises near the house that could be climbed.
7. Lock up ladders and tools that could be used to gain entry.
8. Use small gravel near the foundation to make noise when stepped upon.
9.  Make sure you provide a clear view of your house from the road.
10. Install night lighting around your home.

Keep these ideas in mind to make your home a safer place for yourself and your family.

Japanese Aralia Is Very Satisfying

Japanese Aralia - Fatsia japonica

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) might have had Ara the Beautiful, King of Armenia (c. 800 BC) in mind when he named Aralia. According to ancient legend, Ara was so desirable that Queen Semiramis of Assyria wanted him madly. She must have been quite a woman. Many cultural advances of ancient Persia were ascribed to her. Nevertheless, Ara preferred his wife, so refused her advances. Furious, she declared war on Armenia to capture him alive. Alas, Ara died in battle. Semiramis remained semi-satisfied.

Flowers of Japanese Aralia

Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica), a member of the Araliaceae family including other awesome plants, is also known as Fatsia. It is big, bold, glossy and handsome. Large, palmate (like the palm of a hand), evergreen leaves with wide lobes (like fat fingers) lend an exotic appearance to the landscape. Foliage may be deep green to variegated, depending upon the variety. Small white flowers in big umbel (umbrella-like) clusters appear late fall to early winter. Japanese Aralia may grow to 18 feet, though the average mature height is around 8 feet.

Japanese Aralia can be grown in partial shade to full shade in Zones 7 to 9.  Gardeners in Zone 7 should plant it in a protected area and provide extra mulch during winter. Gardeners in Georgia’s higher elevations can easily grow it indoors for its handsome foliage. Loamy, well-drained soil with pH ranging from 6.1 to 7.8 is best. Pests and diseases are few, and usually of little concern. Plants are drought-tolerant when established and deer-resistant. For a bold, beautiful appearance in your southern landscape, Japanese Aralia is very satisfying.

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Redcliffe Plantation - Home of James Henry Hammond

 "If you think that political ambitions, passions, intrigues, subterfuges, out-right lies by public figures are worse now than ever, they are not. Believe James Henry Hammond and me."

Redcliffe Plantation House

I was interested to learn more about James Henry Hammond when visiting one of his former plantations near Aiken, SC. Redcliffe is now a S.C. State Historical Site. I was returning from a funeral. It was a dry, hazy, scorching day. The only respite was on the front porch overlooking the Savannah River valley.

Front porch, Redcliffe Plantation

Hammond (Nov. 15, 1807 - Nov. 13, 1864) - Governor, Senator and Statesman of SC, Democrat Party (1842-1864), ardent slave-holder - did not reveal everything about himself in his diaries. Who would? Even though he professed his diaries were only for himself, he must've known others would read them. One can't scurry about the house moments before death to eliminate secrets. Indeed, many pages referring to another - possibly a son - were torn out after his death.

He was a tormented man, morose, always feeling ill, expecting his death to be near even in his 40s. He didn't say "I think my liver is diseased. However, I don't know beans about my disease, and I am not sure what is bothering me", but that was the gist of it. Yes, Hammond was a Scorpio as was Dostoevsky.

His wife's family widely advertised his sins. He acknowledged his peccadilloes - especially liaisons with his tempting young nieces - but complained that other great men with more notorious histories were not so reviled. His wife separated from him for five years, but returned. (Her family had warned her about him, but she married anyway at the age of 17.) His indiscretions haunted him for the rest of his life because others begrudged him.

Hammond had political ambitions but refused to advance himself, refused to allow others to advance him, only allowing himself to be dragged into office by universal acclaim. In fact, many of his speeches and writings were widely applauded...according to him. Maybe they were.

Hammond had a love/hate relationship with his Maker. They were never close.

Nothing ever worked out to his satisfaction. Others wouldn't follow his advice. Most politicians were deplorable; a few were misguided. Family, friends, acquaintances were foolish, naive, duplicitous. None loved him entirely. His crops never flourished. His dams broke. Loans made in good faith to others were not repaid. Hundreds of souls depended upon his providence, but he couldn't make ends meet. Slaves got sick and died. During the War for Southern Independence, desperate Confederates took his stores and never paid enough. He expected his slaves to bolt when they got the chance.

Near the end, his diaries referred to the deaths of friends, family and acquaintances in far-away battles. Union troops were advancing.

The Epilogue tell us that knowing his death was near, he wanted more than anything to hear music, so children were gathered around his bed to sing. Apparently, the performance didn't go well, for he complained about it.

He directed that he be buried near a couple of magnificent trees known to his family, with the proviso that if his property was taken by Union forces his grave would be plowed.

If Southern history and politics - especially obscure and ancient details about South Carolina and neighboring Georgia - interest you, Redcliffe Plantation and Hammond's diaries might. The collection is titled Secret and Sacred. If you expect nothing to go exactly right; if you think that political ambitions, passions, intrigues, subterfuges, out-right lies by public figures are worse now than ever, they are not. Believe James Henry Hammond and me.

There's not much left at Redcliffe that's horticulturally notable. Its long tree-lined avenue no longer exists. A few beautiful specimens are worth taking time to enjoy.

Though not remarkable, the house itself exhibits many of the interesting handcrafted elements that were common at the time. 

Most poignant are the slave quarters and displays of plantation life.

 

Redcliffe Plantation stands as a stark reminder:

For all flesh is as grass, 

and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.

 The grass withereth, 

and the flower thereof falleth away...

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