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Wisteria
Dave Humby
Posts: 1,145
in Plants
I have 3 lovely Wisteria which grow up a pergola. Two of them are planted at the edge of the lawn. See below (excuse Dudley our new rescue)
Would it be better to have a clear area of grass around the trunks or is that not likely to make a difference? If it is recommended to have a clear area does anyone have any suggestions as to keeping this area clear that would still allow relative ease of mowing?
many thanks
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Posts
I would always have a clear circle around the base of a shrub, tree or climber - a diameter of around 75 cm is good. That prevents your plant having to compete with the grass for water and nutrients and enables you to feed and mulch your plant. It also avoids the possibility of damage to the bark on the trunk of your plant by being bashed by the mower or ripped by a strimmer.
It looks as if there's grass growing between your wisteria trunk and the support - how on earth do you cut that - scissors?
A good clear circle of earth will make your life much easier as well as be better for your wisteria.
Say Hi to Dudley from me
He's a sweetie.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks Dove, had a feeling that was going to be the answer!
As for removing the grass, would you propose just to dig it out while being careful not to damage the trunk and roots then topping up with soil? What would you suggest for a 'mulch'? I'd want to avoid stones due to the mower and bark chippings would just get hurled across the lawn by the blackbirds. I guess I could bark it then pin that all down with some chicken wire and landscape fabric 'pins'?
As for Dudley he's a great addition to the household but fortunately with a photo you don't get the full 'vocal' experience!
Yes, dig it out carefully - cut a circle and try to peel it back, perhaps using a knife of even a wall-paper or paint scraper type thing. I don't like stone mulches - I think they absorb the heat of the sun and can dry the soil out beneath them, or even get the roots too warm.
I'd top up with some loam (JI No 3) mixed with some leafmould or similar. And then every year I'd feed and then mulch with either homemade compost or bought in soil conditioner or well rotted manure.
Do the blackbirds really make a lot of mess - they don't here and we have a lot of them - won't Dudley see them off?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks for the ideas Dove and DHR. As I had found a small pile of pavers behind the garage as had been used to edge the patio adjacent to the wisteria, I planned to use these as an inset border. Unfortunately after starting to dig out the area around the plant I found there were shallow roots in several places. Fortunately I was digging / excavating with some subtlety (most unlike me!) so I don't think I have done too much damage. It does however put an end to that idea.
So it looks like I either leave as is - the wisteria don't seem to have been compromised in an obvious way with having grass there or try and cut away the grass to a depth of say 1" (I'm not sure I'd get the grass roots as this level?). The problem this would leave me is that if I put a bark mulch down I don't think it would last 5 minutes with the birds and the draft from the lawnmower without having any depth or edging to keep everything in place.
I'm sure I'm over-complicating what should be a very simple task!