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New Build: where to put Wisteria?

Steph17Steph17 Posts: 21
in Garden design
I have bought a wisteria in flower! ✅ (won’t make THAT mistake again!) I have a west facing fence, south and north facing walls where I can put this. I wonder where it will be most happy? The fence adjoins a neighbour’s garden, and I don’t want it to rather be over the other side! Any help please. Thx.

Posts

  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Hello! The first very important thing to consider is that a wisteria can will take up a lot of space as it grows and develops. Something like 4 metres high and 10 to 20 metres long. Plus it needs strong support. And of course you must control it constantly to prevent it from getting into your neighbour's garden (to avoid potential problems).
    Does your garden meet these requirements?
  • Nick74Nick74 Posts: 44
    I'm in a new build and have mine against the back of the house -it's south west facing. Recommend growing it against a wall as the can get big and heavy, and a wooden fence won't support it for long. 

    What's the soil like against the wall?- you might need to dig in some compost to help it along and you'll need to keep really well watered in this weather to help it put some decent roots down. Don't be surprised if it doesn't flower next year - mine's been in for 3 years (see pic) and came close to flowering this year until a cold night killed them off the buds. 

    I've used some vine eyes and galvanised steel wire (from B&Q) to support it against the wall. It's worth spending a bit of time doing it as they grow surprisingly quickly!


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited July 2018
    It's actually a good idea to buy them in flower as the you know it can.  Some plants can take years to reach flowering maturity.

    I would say a south facing wall would be best and you need to provide it with supports.  The cheapest and least obtrusive supports are made by screwing vine yes into the wall in horizontal rows at 30cm intervals up the wall and with a vine eye every 1?5 to 2m apart.  You then tension the wires at the ends so they don't sag.   

    If you're in the south of the UK, the west facing fence will be OK but I would attache tensioned wires to posts inside it so that if/when the fence needs replacing it can be done without entirely dismantling the wisteria.

    In either case, gripple wires seem to be a good way to go now.  Have a look at this thread - https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1014364/wire-trellis-requirements#latest 

    THE RHS offers this advice on wisteria pruning - summer and winter - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=242 


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Wall or fence will need support . Plant away from wall sloping back towards support will give room for big trunk in the future. Heavy duty support now will save trouble later, so choose which place will take the strain/size.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I'd put it on the south-facing wall as well. As Nick says, you will need to drill vine eyes into your wall and wires between.  Also consider whether you really want to climb a ladder several times a year to keep it well pruned.  I keep mine well pruned on a 5ft tall wall, which is about 15 ft long and it flowers beautifully. You did the right thing buying one already in flower, which is the only way to ensure you have one which will flower. Some don't.  I personally wouldn't plant it at all until the weather breaks- just keep it in it's pot and well watered until the autumn, then prepare the soil really well with loads of manure - they are very greedy plants. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Nick74Nick74 Posts: 44
    @Lizzie27 I bought a 5m ladder for the wisteria and I'm terrified every time I go up it! 😆
  • Steph17Steph17 Posts: 21
    This was my previous effort (in need of a huge haircut). I bought it when it was not in flower..... and it never did. I tried absolutely everything for 11years.... and then moved! This was a south facing wall.
    Thanks for all the thoughts. I hadn’t considered the weight on the fence, so one of the walls it is. Have loads of room, so won’t impact on neighbours. 
    I will get the drill and wires going. Are the wires systems better than normal wires and eyes?? 

    .
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    edited July 2018
    To flower it needs to be cut back by at least a third so the plantsman told me.
  • Steph17Steph17 Posts: 21
    Oh, yes thanks,  I tried everything. Followed the book to the letter some years, and other years, )like in the photo) I just gave up. Anyway, pastures new .... hopefully more luck, and more flowers! 
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