Vines grow quickly. Some will grow quickly on almost anything. But others need help growing in the direction you want them to grow.

From 1,000 Gardening Questions & Answers (Workman Publishing, $19.95 paperback): "Most vines will climb the comparatively smooth bamboo stakes sold in garden centers. But they will be happier – and more inclined to go straight up – if you provide twigs with the bark on, rough sisal twine and/or something else with texture."

FILE 1997/Staff

Wisteria will quickly cover an arbor, fence or outbuilding. If not pruned annually, it can become invasive.

Before you can determine the best way to support your vine, you need to know what type of climber it is. There are three main types: tendril-climbers, twiners or clingers. Tendrils and twiners are the most common.

The tendril-climbers send out filaments that wrap around objects they contact. The tendrils can't wrap around thick supports, such as fence posts. Tack up wire, twine or even thin wood stakes, and the vine will climb them.

Twiners don't send out shoots; they simply wrap themselves around supports. They are excellent on wire, mailboxes, trellises, lattice and arbors. Generally, they are heavier than tendril-climbers, so the support structures need to be stronger. Like the tendril-climbers, you have to have a support of some kind to grow a twiner horizontally. Lattices, wire mesh and nets will work.

Clinging vines essentially glue themselves to surfaces. They send out aerial rootlets, called holdfasts. Any rough-textured surface will do: Walls, trees and fences are conquered with ease. Examples are Boston or English ivy. They are very good at covering broad expanses, but watch out – they also can loosen the mortar on brick walls. They also can damage the wood on frame buildings.

Clingers only start clinging from new growth. 1,000 Gardening Questions & Answers has some interesting suggestions for holding up the vines until they start clinging: The book suggests bubble-gum, masonry staples (don't crush the stems), soft putty, glued ceramic disks with bendable wire holders (sold at garden centers), even thumbtacks on a wooden fence ("Stagger them at 6-inch intervals along either side of the stem.")

1,000 Gardening Questions and The Lone Star Gardener's Book of Lists (Taylor Publishing, $17.95 paperback) specify some common vines and the type of climber they are:

Tendril climbers: Cat's-claw vine (Macfadyena unguis-cati ), passion vine (Passiflora spp.), grapes, cross vine ( Bignonia capreolata), autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), scarlet clematis (Clematis texensis), cup-and-saucer vine ( Cobaea scandens), sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus).

Twiners: Mandevilla (Mandevilla splendens), Confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), bougainvillea ( Bougainvillea spp.), morning glory (Ipomoea spp.), moonflower (Ipomoea alba), wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), cypress vine (Quamoclit pinnata), hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab), coral honeysuckle ( Lonicera sempervirens), evergreen smilax (Smilax lanceolata), silver lace vine (Polygonum aubertii), Henryi clematis ( Clematis henryi), Armand clematis (Clematis armandii), hybrid clematis (Clematis x hybrida).

Clingers: English ivy (Hedera helix), climbing fig ( Ficus pumila), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), Persian ivy (Hedera colchica ), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).