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War Of The Worlds!

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

Don't be fooled!  This alien monster starts as a small seed or even in a small pot. 

And you plant it thinking how one day it will be beautiful, cascading, flowering delight. 

You build a pretty, but light, pergola to house your new little buddy.

But no.  Left unchecked this alien being can, and mercilessly will, take over its perch!

It will take over the world!

This humongous trumpet plant has been growing under, around and over this deck for nearly 20 years.

It is beautiful, especially when flowering, but at this point weighs hundreds of pounds.

And it is tearing up the deck!

 

It is also tearing up its support.

You can see a couple of supports toward the rear which have been removed from their original positions.

This lovely entry way light, not made for the outdoors, was moved here when a new interior light was purchased some time ago.

The way this is done is very "homeowner" in fashion, not correct and fairly dangerous.

But it has been there!

Sooner or later this plant will collapse this support!

 

 

The original columnar supports for the deck, beside which the alien was planted, have been completely eaten!

They had to be replaced, of course.

This being Virginia, Mr. Jefferson would be proud of the alien's intelligent symmetry.

Notice how both previous columns have been removed and preserved at exactly the same angle!

Parallels are hard to come by in nature!

But, with some trimming above, this alien creature might once again be the delight it was intended!

After all, with views like these it sure would be worth it!

The upper and lower decks both view into the property.  The nearest neighbor is no where near the house!

My recommendation:  keep your plants under control and away from the house!

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(51)

Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

Wow! It looks like it's looking for a way in!

Jul 18, 2010 05:24 AM
LLoyd Nichols
Premier Florida Realty of SWFL - Fort Myers, FL
Southwest Florida Homes By The Sea

Jay, I can relate.  In Florida in summer, everything grows so fast and left alone, the whole state would turn into a jungle.

Jul 18, 2010 05:27 AM
Kate McQueen
Realty Associates Texas - Cypress, TX
Tailored service for your real estate needs!

When we purchased our current home two years ago, the previous owner had a vine growing on anything that would support it.  The backyard became a jungle when summer approached, and I spent hours upon hours cutting away excessive vine.  Then Hurricane Ike came along and pruned it all for me.

Now that native plantings are a popular gardening approach, we try to stick with what's supposed to be here and prune as necessary.

Jul 18, 2010 05:55 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

mother nature has a way of taking over when left unchecked!  it seems like it happens overnight sometimes, the little bushes you plant near the home become monsters overnight.

Jul 18, 2010 06:01 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Good observations.  One of our problematic "natural growths" would be the blackberrys.  DELICIOUS as they are, they are considered 'noxious' here.  Birds eat them, and deposit the seeds hither and yon.  When they grow they take over everything. 

Jul 18, 2010 06:18 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I always hear home inspectors talk about keeping plants at least a foot away from the home or any structures to not invite bugs.  Never thought of the weight of something like this.

Jul 18, 2010 06:22 AM
Frank Castaldini
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in San Francisco

There a tinge of humor here.  Nature has a sense of humor and can be relentless.  Thanks.

Jul 18, 2010 07:19 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Like the other comments here, I've seen similar vines take over structures but this is like "Day of the Triffids" Wow!

Jul 18, 2010 07:34 AM
Deborah "Dee Dee" Garvin
C2 Financial - San Diego, CA
C2 Financial

I think it would help if people looked at pictures of the mature plant or tree before they purchased and bought the plant.  The pretty little vine in the five gallon bucket can become the monster you illustrate.  And, trees planted too close together will not thrive and will end up being culled in the future.

Jul 18, 2010 07:51 AM
Deborah "Dee Dee" Garvin
C2 Financial - San Diego, CA
C2 Financial

I think it would help if people looked at pictures of the mature plant or tree before they purchased and bought the plant.  The pretty little vine in the five gallon bucket can become the monster you illustrate.  And, trees planted too close together will not thrive and will end up being culled in the future.

Jul 18, 2010 07:51 AM
Deborah "Dee Dee" Garvin
C2 Financial - San Diego, CA
C2 Financial

I think it would help if people looked at pictures of the mature plant or tree before they purchased and bought the plant.  The pretty little vine in the five gallon bucket can become the monster you illustrate.  And, trees planted too close together will not thrive and will end up being culled in the future.

Jul 18, 2010 07:51 AM
Ann-Marie Clements
Candidate for an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership - Saint John, NB
Ed.D. candidate, Innovative Proactive Principa

Hi Jay,

I never heard of this plant, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention when I lived in NY, MI, CA, WA, OR, TX, WI & FL...  Nature has a funny way of taking over to help itself...  I saw that when I went to Mt St. Helens after the 1980 eruption...  We had gone there 10 years after the eruption and even where the volcano had basically "destroyed" everything in its sight, there were trees, vines & plants growing back where the gray ash had taken over...  Nature does take care of itself!!! ;>)))

Jul 18, 2010 09:29 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Kathryn - things in life have a tendency to slide along.  I'll get to it...

Leslie - or like a pistol or hand drill!  It appears to really be attacking!

R&A - trimming helps it to grow more full.  This plant certainly was full!

Harj - the cutsie trees eventually become big ones!  And you are right, they do damage.

Leslie P. - it actually was getting under the siding members.

Jul 18, 2010 10:11 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Lloyd - I bet the gardeners there are very busy people!

Kate - sensible is as sensible does!

Robert - everything grows!  Like the jungles taking over Mayan pyramids.

Carla - I have heard they are very easy to grow!

Chris Ann - all that is true.  And I have never seen something take over like this - it is a very heavy plant!

 

Jul 18, 2010 10:21 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Frank - the title gave you that hint, didn't it!?

Russell - it is possible my picture did not do it justice.  It was huge!

Deborah - they were obviously trying to train it to climb the deck.  It worked!

Ann-Marie - you just can't stay still, can you?!  We humans could not destroy the world if we tried.

Jul 18, 2010 10:23 AM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Jay, I hate it when folks just let their plants grow like this. I have seen vegetation do thousands of dollars worth of damage to a structure. Good post!

Jul 18, 2010 12:53 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Michael - things get bigger and then the war begins!  Two worlds, for sure.

Jul 18, 2010 11:05 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

The secret: trim back and trim often. We have a hibiscus bush that would have taken over half of our yard by now if we didn't prune it regularly - and almost to the ground. Love the analogy!

I love English ivy or any vine climbing on a building, but my mother told me when I was young the dangers of it. In Florida, we see creeping fig climbing on walls and buildings, but I don't think it has the same intense roots. Will have to check on that.

Jul 19, 2010 01:42 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Oh!  But, Jay!  Wysteria is so pretty!  I have to have a bunch of ivy removed from my garage.

Jul 19, 2010 03:29 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Sharon - regular pruning is quite a job, and I bet especially in Florida!  As to your vine, even if the roots are not deep, plants hold moisture against a house and can introduce insects.  I would beware...

Pat - not only pretty, but a beautiful aroma!  I love the smell, but not the bees.  But trim away!

Jul 19, 2010 01:08 PM