That's a good combination. Being able to control the earth while not needing to stand on it can come in pretty handy.

[Back on Avalon he used his earth magic in mostly offensive ways (but what does he not turn into an attack?), opening up the ground to bury enemies and the like. Yet it still always proved to be a good defence against physical attacks as well.]

I can't see how anyone could have done a better job than you earlier. Without their root anchoring them those vines were pretty much useless.