Click to see a larger image.

create ivy swags

English ivy (Hedera helix) is a fast-growing evergreen vine, hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10. The gardener that grew the vines in this photo planted two plants in front of each of the fence posts more than 10 years ago. The swags were well formed after just two or three years.

Start by stapling a long section of vine up onto the fence with fencing staples to form the post. Train side shoots for the swags the same way. As the vines grow, wind the new growth back into the old. Trim errant stems with scissors to thicken and shape the growth.

plant pick

Bleeding heart vine
Clerodendrum thomsoniae

Some catalogs call this plant glory bower, but bleeding heart vine is a much better description for the red flowers that peep out of puffy white calyxes.

Where it’s cold hardy, this is a bushy, evergreen vine. But it’s often sold as a house plant, although it does prefer to be outside during the summer. In cooler areas, it stays 3 to 5 ft. tall, so it’s great in a container.

During the summer, bleeding heart vine likes consistent moisture, but don’t let the plant sit in water. A balanced fertilizer (like 10-10-10) once a month will keep this vine going strong.

TYPE Tender perennial SIZE 3 to 15 ft. long BLOOM White and red in mid- to late summer LIGHT Full sun to part shade SOIL Well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 10 to 12; Heat: AHS zones 12 to 1

creative staking

Sooner or later, you’re going to have a floppy plant that needs some help standing tall. Of course, there are all kinds of plant supports available, from inexpensive bamboo stakes to the more high-end vinyl-coated Y-stakes and plant supports. But sometimes it’s fun to use something that’s a little unusual to keep your plants on the up-and-up. Here are a couple of ideas that work well and are simple to do.

LEAN ON ME — How can you throw away a trusty old rake, even if it’s losing its teeth like the one at right? Cut the handle off at an angle so it will poke into the soil easily. If your New England aster starts to lean, the rake provides a simple prop.

CLIMBER CLIPS — Small spring-hinged hair clips hold plants to bamboo stakes. Make sure the “fingers” of the clip can go around the stake, as they do in the bottom photo, without pinching the stem. The clips come in lots of colors, so choose bright ones for tiny accents, or clear or dark ones for more subtle support.

Check out lots of other creative gardening ideas in Easy Weekend Gardening, Vol. 3 at right.