Grapevines (Vitis spp., hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 10) provide decorative leaves and tendrils that tumble along trellises, walls and fences. If you don’t have a lot of room in your yard for a freestanding trellis, the area right next to a wall of your home might start looking good because it provides a flat, exposed area against which a trellis can rest. Horror stories of plant roots damaging home foundations may run through your mind, but don't worry: Grapevines are well-suited to living right next to a house.
Planting anything next to a home can be a problem if the plants have strong roots that like to spread out and push their way through dense soil. The roots can hit up against the home’s foundation, causing the plant to be, in effect, root-bound. They can also soak up so much moisture -- this is an issue with many trees -- that the soil begins to shift and shrink. If that happens, the house's foundation can become unstable and crack. Grapevine roots prefer a more relaxed approach and won’t try to force an obstacle in the soil to move out of the roots’ way, nor will they drain the soil of all its moisture.
Grapevine roots tend to run rather deep instead of wide, and they need looser soil in order to grow. They’re unlikely to try to push their way through the denser soil you find under a heavy house foundation. While they could always find their way through holes in siding or vents -- a risk with any roots that spread -- that shouldn’t be an issue if your home's foundation and walls are in good shape. The University of Illinois Extension recommends trimming the vines well if they’re near vents, window frames, siding, or other areas that could potentially have holes. Grapevine roots can do what’s called serpentine layering, where a point on a vine that touches the ground develops roots itself, but you won’t have roots trying to break through the wall of the house.
It’s actually rather common to find grapevines running along walls. The tendrils of the vines require a trellis or some other type of frame, but you can place these next to a home as long as the environmental conditions in that spot are appropriate for grapes. Plant the grapes at least 6 inches away from the wall, but don’t worry if tendrils rest against the wall. In fact, that could help your home, especially if the grapes run along bricks or masonry; the University of Illinois Extension says that vines often protect a surface from heat and aridity.
Treat Them Nicely
Grapevines planted in an area where they have all their environmental needs met could flourish for years, providing you with lots of fruit. Grapevines need good airflow and light exposure; without these, fungi and rot could take over. Organic Gardening recommends giving the vines a spot where they’ll receive morning sunlight.
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Grapes
- University of Illinois Extension: Ask Extension: Grapevines
- University of Illinois Extension: Climbers and Twiners -- Vines for the Home Garden
- North Dakota State University: Hortiscope: Questions on: Grapevines
- BBC: How to Grow Grapevines
- American Journal of Enology and Viticulture: Grapevine Rooting Patterns: A Comprehensive Analysis and Review
- Dawson Foundation Repair: Tree Roots and Root Barricades
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