ᐅ Garden Photos Chat Corner

@Tina mit K: We installed gutters on a wooden partition wall on the terrace and grew lettuce, strawberries, etc. in them—somewhat vertical but not a true vertical garden. For a visual frame and privacy in front of the house, we had a simple pergola made of Bangkirai wood (basically just a type of gate with two ropes as crossbars), covered with wisteria. It provided a wonderful scent and cool shade.

We once had Virginia creeper on the east-southeast wall. It looked great. I can’t quite remember why it was removed. If you prefer a more rustic look, you can use pallets and plant various trailing plants in them. The pallets become barely visible and are an easy solution to hold soil horizontally. By the way, you can also grow tomatoes hanging downward from a bucket with a hole in the bottom.

Thanks for the detailed response.

At the garden center, we were told that wasps really like Virginia creeper. The staff member has a natural stone wall covered with Virginia creeper where wasps gather, but it doesn’t cause any problems there. However, right next to the terrace, I can’t imagine that being very pleasant...

I still have some time until next year to think of something.

She’s right, wasps really like Virginia creeper. However, wasps also eat mosquitoes. Since wasps leave me alone, unlike mosquitoes, I don’t mind them. Hornets help control wasps, and they are quite peaceful.

We have a wasp nest above the terrace, under the roof. It is several meters long. Not so great. They occasionally fall into our drinks. But hmm, I could plant the Virginia creeper (wild grape vine) on the other side of the house by the garage. Maybe then the terrace/play area will be less attractive to them.

The wasps ate our grapes on the house this year. It was quite an interesting feast for weeks – the pampered wasps were then drunkenly lying under the rose bush. Nevertheless, we had plenty of mosquitoes. That doesn't bother me much, as they don’t bite me, only my husband has to suffer.

I believe dragonflies also eat wasps, right? They were swarming around our grapes a lot as well.

We are planning to plant privet hedges. My mother-in-law mentioned that small gnats (fruit flies?) tend to gather there. Do you have any experience with privet? Can you confirm this?
Would you recommend installing a root barrier with privet? Thanks!