How to Use Vines for Patio Decor

Plant vines at the base of the wall connecting your home and your patio. By planting the vines here, you can train them to grow up the wall, securing them with florists' tape, and create a lush, dense wall. Although this won't add to the privacy of your patio, it will add a lovely natural feel to the area.

Build a framework above your patio using polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, pipe or lengths of bamboo. It should be fairly simple, like sports tents are made. There should be a leg at each corner and pieces connecting the corners stretched across the top. Place a pot of planted vines at each corner, and train the vines to grow up the corner posts and along the sides of the framework. In warmer areas, the vines can be trained to grow over across the patio as well, providing natural shade.

Install several metal headboards around your patio to use as a unique fence, and then train the vines to grow up the metal bars. Inexpensive old headboards can be found at thrift shops, yard sales or estate sales. The vines either can be placed in pots at the bottom of the head board fence or can be planted in the ground below them.

Place a large planter full of vines in a strategic corner of the patio. As the vines grow out of the pot, arrange them in an attractive manner along the edges of the patio, working in both directions from the planter. Take care if you don't want the vines to grow in your yard, however, as continued exposure to soil and moisture will cause the vines to take root.