How to Plant, Grow and Care for Wisteria – I don’t know about you, but I could grow wisteria over just about everything. It’s like outdoor crepe paper, only prettier. I have it growing over the top of my arbor on my garden gate. I love it. It makes me want a porch swing and iced tea.
How to Plant, Grow and Care for Wisteria
Planting and growing wisteria is super easy. {In fact, I hear in the south it’s more of an invasive nightmare than a dripping vine. Here in the Northwest, though, it makes a just right addition to an arbor.}
To plant it, start with a healthy vine.
Most nurseries will have them come early spring. While it will grow in part shade, it won’t flower, so if you want the purple blooms, make sure to choose a sunny location to plant it.
Dig a hole 2-3 times the size of the root ball or roots.
Place the vine in the soil, cover with a mixture of soil and compost. A 2″-4″ layer of mulch will help the vines retain moisture. Water it in and you are done. {You don’t need to continue regular watering unless you live in an area that receives less than 1″ of rain a year.}
To care for wisteria, pruning is key.
Don’t prune in the winter or early spring, because you will deter flowering. It is best to prune heavily after the spring blooming. That will encourage another flowering in late summer/fall. A heavy pruning in late summer can also help to keep the fast growing vine tame. wisteria does not need fertilizer, and once established, past keeping the growth under control, it needs almost no maintenance.
As a side note, last time I planted my wisteria, several readers advised me not to plant wisteria close to any trees, as it will choke them out eventually. So, when you are deciding where to plant your vines, make sure to keep that in mind.
Now get out there and plant something,
Mavis
For more gardening tips, pop on over to my gardening page.
Dawn S says
I think Wisteria is beautiful, too. I’m in Georgia and have always heard it is a threat to septic systems-it’s roots can creep into the tank.
Madam Chow says
Beautiful but horribly invasive. If people feel they must plant it, you gave the right advice – do not plant it near other tress or wooded areas because it can easily get out of control in warmer climates and decimate forests.
sam says
That’s why you plant Wisteria fructesens instead of that super aggressive non-native.
Paula says
Not only will it choke out trees, it will pull its support out of the ground. Be sure to start with a sturdy structure and, for the love of all that’s holy, don’t plant it where it can run along the eaves of your house.
Rita says
Mavis! I’ve been meaning to ask about your fence? Did you build it? If so, what’s the wood? Thanks!
Rita
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, we built the fence and it is cedar. 🙂
Kamiko says
Imagine this. 3 trees with the vines growing all over it, joined together through the vines, actually tugging on a 4th tree. It looked like 3 people pulling on a tree with rope, and we had to remove the tree due to it was growing into the side of our home, pushing the roof off.
sherry says
What kind of soil is best for wisteria? Acid or a note alkaline soil?