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wisteria against a wall

Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 173
edited March 2021 in Plants
Hi!

I want to grow a wisteria against the front wall of my house. I dont know if it would naturally grow against the wall like an ivy does, or if i need to add some wires for it to climb

What is the best way to do this? 

Thanks
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,139
    It will, as it matures, become sturdy enough to hold its own branches up as they mature and turn woody but, initially, you'll have to provide a wire or wooden framework to hold it and guide it where you want it.  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 173
    Thanks! Your picture speaks by itself ;)

    Does it make sense to throw a nylon thread from the window in the first floor to the pot where the wisteria is to force it to grow? What is the best way to do it?

    Also, the main branch of my wisteria has already grown around a trellis arch. Is it better to keep it and allow it to grow from there, or should i prune that branch?

    Thanks!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,139
    edited March 2021
    A picture would help for the trellis branch question.

    Not nylon.  You need proper garden wire on vine eyes screwed into the all or a wooden framework.

    This is the smaller one here - not growing in that empty pot!

    and in flower

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 173
    Mine is much much younger... see picture attached 

    thanks 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,139
    OK.  Young enough to unwind that stem - carefully and after a good drink - from that teeny support.   It needs to go into a bigger pot now, in decent John Innes no 3 type loam compost and you'll need to keep it fed and watered.   

    That'll give you time to make a decent planting hole at least 3'/90cms wide and deep because its roots will want to go down deep as it grows.   Once planted you can cover the bare soil with pebbles and gravel if you don't want other plants there but you need a surface that lets rainwater in to the roots. You'll also need to give it a framework of galvanised wire held just off the wall by vine eyes (good DIY stores) and held at the ends with tensioners (same DIY) so they don't sag and making sure to avoid windows, doors, guttering and soffits. 

    You could start them at any height depending on whether you  want to cover the lower wall or start at head height.  Place the horizontal wires at 30 to 45cms intervals up the wall.  That long, main stem can be trained horizontally low down or else held vertically to get to the height at which you wish to start.


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 173
    Thanks! Yes, i need a bigger pot...

    So, i will unwind the stem and then, roll it again the new wire, or leave it free for it to find the wire by itself?

    Also, i have noticed that there is only one stem growing. What should i do to push the other stems to start growing as well?

    Thanks for the tips, that was really useful!

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,139
    If you unwind that stem and then train it horizontally across a low wire it will, naturally, send shoots up from its own buds.  Alternatively, if you cut back that stem by a third to a half and tie it in vertically, you should get extra stems coming up from the base and from its buds.  

    Both our big wisterias regularly produce shoots from their trunks but we remove them to keep the trunks bare and encourage all the flowering and vigour higher up as one has windows below and the other has some shade loving plants at its feet.

    I also have a newer, white wisteria I want to grow along a waist high mesh fence round our veg plot so I've encouraged that one to send out side shoots rather than grow one long vertical shoot.  No pics of that one yet tho.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 173
    Thanks!

    last question, what’s the best location for this? It was in a south facing fence, and I moved it today to a north east wall, but can also place it in a south west wall. I assume sw will be better than ne, right?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,139
    edited March 2021
    Yes, sun is best but I have seen one in Belgium growing over a high, north west facing wall on an old abbey.   North east may be a tad dry and exposed to biting winds so it depends on your exposure really.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 173
    I have seen this wiring kit. Would it work? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Picture-Stainless-Turnbuckle-Tensioner-Strainer/dp/B07Q7MN8W1

    If not, what would you recommend?

    Apologies of the question is dumb, I’m just learning about this :smile:

    thanks
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