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Will my new climbing hydrangea destroy my fence?

espaliernoviceespaliernovice Posts: 7
in Plants
I have bought 2 Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris with the intention of planting them along a N-facing wooden fence, but after doing a bit more research, it sounds like they are  better suited to walls due to their eventual height and weight. Our fence is sturdy compared with other kinds, but I still think maybe I've made a mistake! Any advice or reassurance? I'm in south Scotland. Thank you.

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Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    They take a while to start but once they do they can climb up to 15m!
    They cling a bit like ivy so no a fence wouldn't be a good support as any painting or repairing would involve prising the shrub away from the wood
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    This is mine in the height of the summer, leaves drop in the autumn, not sure if it will cling to a fence. For some reason can't add a photo, but it looks spectacular in the summer.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    My Mum had one and it destroyed her fence in the end!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    In my opinion it's not suitable for a fence ... apart from the painting/repairing problem, the shoots will force their way between panels of wood and force them apart as they grow. 
    A lovely plant for a wall tho ... one of my favourite climbers :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MarranMarran Posts: 195
    I made the same "mistake?" buying one.  However, mine is in a large pot on the patio where the last couple of years it has rambled between other pots - in fact, I trimmed it back to about 4' last weekend.   
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    t

    This is the photo of mine in the summer

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    Beautiful @widgetwilk ann. Do you prune yours at all, to keep its shape?  And if so, when?
    I've planted one this year on a NW facing corner wall, but have to be mindful of the bay window nearby.
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    edited November 2018
    I do have to try and keep control as it is on the garage wall and do not want it to go over roof or under tiles, I do it any time,  here is a photo of it now, such a lovely plant in the summer but not to pretty in the winter, that's a jasmine next to it, that also dies and drops leave in the winter.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    That's lovely widgetwilk ann.
    I also had a cutting from a friend, and once it took off after a couple of years I had to sadly take it off the fence. (We have a low wall with panels between brick pillars supporting fence) I kept a small piece that had rooted in a pot for now.
    But I found I liked the structure of the bare stems in winter :)
    Hope you find somewhere nice and sensible for yours espaliernovice.

    Actually think mine might end up like Marrans. Anyone for ground cover?
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    Thanks ann, helpful so see the frame of growth on yours without it's leaves.
    Mine is only a couple of feet high, but I've read that... First year sleeps, second year creeps, third year leaps... is true of climbing hydrangea :) 
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