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Wisteria - Growing up an outdoor TV Aerial Lead

bullygumdropsbullygumdrops Posts: 6
in Plants
Hello, 

I’ve just purchased a Wisteria plant and planted it in the front garden. All going well so far! 

I was going to put some form of trellis in, but it’s grown so fast it has already started winding itself around a TV aerial lead that runs down the front of the house. 

I’m now debating whether to just let the plant grow up this wire? It would cover the ugly wire up, so that be handy, but I’m just a bit worried it might do some damage longer term that I’ve not thought of. 

Any suggestions / thoughts much appreciated! 

Thanks!
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Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 10,830
    Wisteria can completely cover the front and roof of the house, including the windows and doors. It will also try to cover your neighbours house which is not good news with that wooden cladding.  Trellis is not strong enough for it and neither is that wire unfortunately. It needs pruning twice a year and can be a rampant beast - sorry! 

     You could grow it as a standard in the middle of your garden secured to a very strong stake with the 'head' in an umbrella shape but this would take some skill. I would suggest that you give it away before it becomes a major headache.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,065
    Comments like Lizzie's make me wonder if I have made a mistake planting a Wisteria...

  • bullygumdropsbullygumdrops Posts: 6
    Don’t be put off! 

    I know it grows quickly and can get out of control, but if you’re willing to put the effort in to pruning it, I’m sure it’ll look great. 

    Lots of houses have it, so there’s got to be a way!
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,538
    Possibly not the right place for it. I have two, one over a pergola, one by the garage wall. They are fine so long as they are pruned regularly.  It will need a good stake initially.
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 982
    Agree with fidgetbones and lizzie 27  - it is a rampant beats if left to its own devices, but is also rather beautiful if you know what to do with it.
    Monty Don did a great piece on wisteria pruning, which you can watch online.
    Put it this way, if you can be bothered with a twice yearly routine, you do the research, you out in the time and you keep it under control, it will be stunning.
    BUt no way will it climb clematis like up a wire - it will pull the whole lot down. They are seriously strong and heavy plants with woody stems eventually. Ours bent guttering and drainpipes!
    Personally, I couldn’t manage one any more, but each to his own.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 3,757
    The only sensible thing to do now is to uproot that Wisteria which should not have been planted in such a cramped space. 
    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,850
    Have a read of this info from the RHS and then consider planting you wisteria somewhere else.   It will smother that wall, sneak under the neighbour's cladding, try and get into and under our gutters and then under your roof tiles.

    Better to plant it in the back garden up a very strong, metal frame - not wooden trellis - or a pergola or arbour.   Alternatively, do as @Lizzie suggests and grow it as a standard in the middle of your lawn and give it an umbrella type frame to support the stems and branches.   

    Definitely worth the effort as they are stunning when in flower and have a heady perfume.   Once established they carry on producing flowers sporadically thru summer and the foliage is attractive too.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,065
    Sorry to hijack but do you think Wisteria would be too heavy for my fence (on the right). I have wire supports attached to the posts with vine eyes. I'm not averse to pruning it but am I making a rod for my own back?


  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 982
    Yes, you are making a rod for your back, I’m afraid 😊
    Even wires are not enough.
    It needs very thick metal frames to clamber up; normal garden wire is just too weak.
    The mass it creates will be too heavy for our normal garden fences - it could pull the whole thing over, once mature.
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 982
    bullygumdrops said:
    Hello, 

    I’ve just purchased a Wisteria plant and planted it in the front garden. All going well so far! 

    I was going to put some form of trellis in, but it’s grown so fast it has already started winding itself around a TV aerial lead that runs down the front of the house. 

    I’m now debating whether to just let the plant grow up this wire? It would cover the ugly wire up, so that be handy, but I’m just a bit worried it might do some damage longer term that I’ve not thought of. 

    Any suggestions / thoughts much appreciated! 

    Thanks!
    To go back to your situation, a rose and clematis combination could look lovely climbing up the side of your house and over that window.
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