Are grapevines a bad idea?

[luvmykid98]

I really want to create some privacy along the backyard fence between our house and the neighbors. (They have an ugly storage shed and the only MEAN golden retriever I have ever known.)

I was thinking grapevines would be fun but will it take too many years for them to become substantial? Also, while I would be growing them just for fun and would be happy to attract additional birds to our yard would it attrack too many? I really don't want blue bird poop all over my patio furniture.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[mommytotwo]

If you want to stay away from the bird poop, how about ivy.

 

[PrincessMommyof2]

First of all, your location is hilarious!

I don't mind grapevines. You could always get a green grape and then you'd only have green bird poop! I absolutely abhor ivy, though; spreads like wildfire and is invasive (in my area).

Why not try a flowering vine, like jasmine. There are several varieties to choose from, a few are evergreen.

 

[LAinSEA]

You may also want to try evergreen clematis (will stay green throughout the winter) or even plant some "contained" bamboo.

We are just planting some bamboo starts in our retaining wall beds after installing some stiff plastic to keep the bamboo from going places we don't want it to go. The goal is to have privacy between our yard and the neighbors without building a fence. We have four varieties for interest and contrast; a golden, a black, Chinese walking stick, and spectabulus (with both gold and green stripes on the culms).

-Laurie