star_stuff I started the oregano and the parsley in styrofoam cups but left them outside and then transplanted them into the containers after they germinated. The rest of the seeds were direct-sown in place except for the chives and the basil. The basil reseeded itself from that container last year. What's there in the containers will stay there now, and eventually I'll add some plants to several more of the containers. Some are self-watering, some are not. I learned my lesson last summer about what to plant in containers. I had no IDEA that White Velvet okra would get to be so huge on the back deck in those containers. They were more than 12 feet tall, and the trunks had to be cut with a chain-saw, they were that tough and big in diameter. So I planned carefully this winter for those containers. Most will have herbs in them. Two will have Swiss chard, and seven will have cowpeas in them. Maybe none of those plants will be monsters. I've grown cowpeas in the garden, but the deer really have decimated them in the past so I'm hoping we can get enough for side-dishes if I grow them on the deck this year. I guess we'll see. :-)

Yep, seen the damage first hand myself. I would pull it off immediately. In addition, the ivy will allow moisture to remain on the wood and long term this will cause issues even for pressure treated wood.

It's in the second pic when you click "next" under the pic of the house... http://www.forsalebyowner.com/listing/F915D It's a red looking deck. I like that color but wondered if it was natural wood or composite? Looks a little too red to be real wood, but I have no idea really. Maybe up close will be different than a pic.

Guess the links didn't work!! Here: http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck2.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/kiwi.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_7.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_7.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_6.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_1.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_3.html