To create a vine-covered wall, you'll need to provide a permanent support for twining and tendriled vines such as clematis and passion flower. You also will need to tie clambering vines or vines that climb by thorns, such as roses and pyracantha, to help them climb. Here's how to create a pattern of crisscrossing wires that will form an 8-inch grid suitable for most grabbing or twining vines.

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What You Need:

• #18 galvanized wire. Choose a dark color that blends well with most surfaces.
• #12 screw hooks or hook eyes. Screw hooks are better because the hook will be 1 inch from the wall when it is driven in. This holds the wires an inch from the wall, allowing the vines more room to maneuver. In mortar or brick walls, use a drill with a mortar bit to make a hole for a plastic screw holder, then screw the hook into it.

Instructions:

1. Draw your grid. Measure and mark an area to be covered by the vine so that the area is a multiple of 8 inches in both width and height.

2. Wire the verticals. Space the hooks in straight lines at 8-inch intervals across the top and bottom of the area to be covered. Attach the wires to the screw hooks in vertical lines from top to bottom. Pull the wires taut. Bend the hooks closed with pliers.

3. Add the horizontals. Space the hooks on the left and right sides of the pattern at 8-inch intervals. Position the top hooks 8 inches below and 8 inches toward the exterior of the hooks at the ends of the top row and 8 inches above and to the exterior of the hooks at the ends of the bottom row. Attach the wires and pull them taut. Bend the screw hooks closed with pliers.