Climbing Hydrangea Support (see pic)

Ivy2

The third year this hydrangea piertolis has been in the ground and I am finally expecting it to leap. 

Have a look at the picture, its the reddish vine running up the wooden post.






As you can see once it gets past the wall, except for the narrow wooden post, the only support is the galvanised wire. I know they use their suckers to cling to walls etc so will nit be able to cling to the wire. Is there anything i can do to support it once it passes the wall? Dont really want to put a wooden trellis or anything up there just for this plant since the other climbers seem fine with thw galvanised wire. Its also quite windy so i think a trellis would get battered in winter storms etc.

Fairygirl

It won't easily cling to a fence. You'd be constantly pruning it to keep it mainly on the wall, or wiring/tying it onto the fence in some way. 

They cover large house walls when established, so not really a climber for such a tiny little space, especially with so many other plants nearby. 

Ivy2

Hmmm, maybe the wrong plant in the wrong location then☹

I dont really want it clinging to my neighbours fence behind. Would tying it to the galvanised wire not work?

The rose in the foreground is in the ground but the honeysuckle is in a pot so could be moved. 

Fairygirl

Honeysuckles really need to be in the ground - the majority aren't suitable for pots, although there's a couple of smaller ones available. They cover large spaces too.

I'm afraid it's really 'wrong plant wrong place' with the H. petiolaris.
You'll end up compromising your rose too if you have too many vigorous climbers in a small space.

Silver surfer

Ivy2 said:

Hmmm, maybe the wrong plant in the wrong location then☹

I dont really want it clinging to my neighbours fence behind. Would tying it to the galvanised wire not work?

Hydrangea anomala petiolaris....They grow huge!
Agree with Fairy..time to think again.

Ivy2

Yes. I think when i planted it i was hoping for it to fill the ugly fences above the wall. I have been a bit impatient and put a few other climbers in there since.



Can it be pruned to keep it manageable? Like the fifth picture silver surfer posted with it on the wall.

Fairygirl

It can be managed, yes - but not with all the other plants you have already. You really won't get the best out of any of them.
When it's grown in the way shown in those photos of @Silver surfer it's usually grown in isolation, maybe a few hardy perennials and/or bulbs at the base if there's room and suitable conditions. When it reaches the top of the wall, it spills over.  
It also needs adequate moisture to do well.

You'd be better with more roses, if that's what you like, or some clematis mixed in. Even shrubby plants like Pyracantha can be used as wall shrubs. Some Euonymous varieties too.  

Ivy2

Ok. Thanks. I will think about removing the hydrangea.

Silver surfer

Be very careful.
Your neighbours who own the wooden fence may not be at all happy to have your climbers climbing over it.
It could even cause the fence to collapse.
Bear in mind it is not yours, so legally you cannot nail anything to it or put straining wires up it.

Ivy2

Oh yes, when i say "fill the ugly fences" i mean fill the view not climb up them. I will dig up the hydrangea. Will perhaps put it in a large pot and try to sell it. Will focus on the well behaved climbers like roses, clematis etc.

thevictorian

I'm a big fan of climbing hydrangea and have one covering the front of my house. I think it was planted 45-50 years ago, by the previous owners. Whilst I do agree with the others, I do think they are quite manageable tbh. They grow reasonably fast when mature but even around our windows and doors, it doesn't take more than an annual prune to keep it tidy.
You can train them along wires and as they are woody they will grow to support themselves in time. It will take it many more years to cover that wall, so I wouldnt be concerned with moving it yet. Personally I would go for a different approach and try to train the hydrangea along the wall and one of the other climbers up and over the top and along the wires. It is very true they don't like crowding so you might need some plant management but I'd rather have the hydrangea personally. I'm growing one up the back of our garage.