How to Use Vines for Patio Lighting
Homeowners often use their patios to host social events that take place at night, which makes proper patio lighting a priority. This can be accomplished with the addition of a variety of different fixtures, but few are more unique than the designs that use vine lighting.
- Place garden stakes at 3-foot intervals around the patio enclosure. Use enough stakes to allow you to plant plenty of vines to create several strands of lighting. The stakes should be on two or three sides of the patio.
- Use floral wire to connect each of the stakes. Use staples or similar fasteners to attach the wire to the stakes.
- Place strands of mini lights, which are also commonly known as twinkle lights and Christmas lights, from the floral wire to the roof and walls of the patio. Place enough strands to properly light the patio and in a way that ensures that the vines will always be growing upward. This method of lighting is particularly useful for roofed patios, as the vines can be grown across the ceiling.
- Soak your vine seeds overnight before planting them. Commonly used vines in patio lighting include morning glory and moonflower vines.
- Dig holes in which to plant the vines around each of the stakes. Refer to the directions provided with the seed packets to ensure that you are digging holes of the correct depth and circumference.
- Plant the seeds as directed by the instructions. Most plants require water immediately following planting.
- Care for the vines as well as possible over the months that follow planting. Proper care will ensure that the plants grow quickly, grow along the correct paths, and are healthy in appearance.