Wisteria is one of the most gorgeous climbing plants that can transform any outdoor space. With its cascading flowers in shades of purple pink, white and blue wisteria adds incredible beauty and charm when trained properly. One of the best ways to showcase wisteria is to train it to grow on a fence. The abundant flowers and vines of wisteria completely change a regular fence into an eye-catching feature.
Why Train Wisteria on a Fence
There are many great reasons to train wisteria vines on fences
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Adds striking beauty and visual interest to an otherwise plain fence, The mass of flowers and vines grabs attention
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Provides privacy screening. The dense foliage of mature wisteria plants creates a living barricade to block unwanted views.
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Fragrance. Many wisteria varieties have wonderfully fragrant flowers. Training wisteria near seating areas allows you to enjoy the scent.
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Versatility. Wisteria can be trained vertically, laterally, or in both directions. This adaptability makes it ideal for all kinds of fences.
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Durability. Once established, wisteria is extremely hardy, rugged and long-lived. It can withstand exposure and continue flowering for decades.
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Low maintenance. With proper initial training and pruning, wisteria needs minimal care as it matures.
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Enhances architecture. The soft cascades of wisteria flowers and vines add cottage-style charm popular in many landscape designs.
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Attracts pollinators. The nectar-rich flowers of wisteria attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Choosing the Right Fence for Wisteria
While wisteria can be grown on many types of fences, some materials work better than others:
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Metal – Iron, steel, aluminum and other metal fences make great strong supports for holding wisteria vines.
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Wood – Avoid weaker softwood fences. Use sturdy hardwood fences rated for outdoor use.
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Chain link – Add galvanized wires across chain link for wisteria to cling to.
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Masonry – Low brick or stone walls work perfectly as long as they are structurally sound.
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Vinyl – Not ideal as they can crack under the weight. Use only as a last resort.
For best results, choose an open, lattice-style fence design. This allows wisteria’s stems to easily weave through the openings. Avoid solid, tightly-spaced picket fences lacking openings.
Getting Started with New Wisteria Vines
Proper training early on is vital to success with wisteria on fences:
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Select a very sunny fence. Wisteria needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun daily to bloom well.
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Prepare soil with compost and organic matter to encourage healthy root growth.
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Plant vines 2+ feet from fence base to allow future root development without disturbance.
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Add trellis or wires along fence for new vines to cling to right away.
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Gently tie young vines to trellis/wires as they start growing to train them up and across.
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Allow 1-2 years of establishing before pruning new wisteria plants.
Training Established Wisteria Vines
Mature wisteria will need occasional re-training:
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Retie wayward vines back to trellis/wires yearly to keep them neatly secured.
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Summer prune side shoots back to 1-2 buds to encourage more flowers over leaves.
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Remove any unwanted vertical vines growing on trees or structures near the fence.
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Redirect vines wandering too far from fence and retie them into proper place.
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Selectively thin congested areas to improve air circulation and light.
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Consider adding upper trellis tiers to spread vines out vertically if needed.
Key Wisteria Fence Care Tips
Follow these maintenance tasks for optimal health and flowering:
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Water – Drench vines regularly in first 2 years. Mature plants need occasional deep soakings.
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Fertilize – Feed each spring with slow-release flowering plant fertilizer.
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Prune – Trim wisteria twice yearly in winter and summer. It’s essential.
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Monitor – Periodically inspect for signs of diseases or pests.
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Support – Check trellises and re-secure any loose vines.
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Weed – Keep fence line weed-free to avoid nutrient competition.
Avoiding Problems with Wisteria
Watch for these potential issues:
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Rampant growth – Stay on top of frequent pruning to keep rampant growth in check.
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Heavy vines – Add extra supports if vines overpower the fence. Monitor for damage.
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Water sprouts – Remove unwanted vertical shoots growing skyward rather than sideways.
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Chlorosis – Add iron supplements if leaves turn yellow.
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Pests like aphids – Control with horticultural oils or beneficial insects if needed.
With proper care, pruning and training, wisteria grown on a sturdy fence can thrive for decades, producing jaw-dropping spring flower displays year after year. Take time to train vines right early on for success. The glorious flowers will be well worth the effort!
Training Different Wisteria Species
While training is similar for all wisteria species, there are some key differences:
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Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) twines clockwise so train vines accordingly.
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Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) twines counter-clockwise so follow that direction.
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American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is less aggressive but still needs directional training.
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Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya) has very long flower clusters so allow ample overhead space.
No matter the species, match expected mature size to fence size for best results.
Stunning Wisteria Flower Colors
Beyond the common purple and blue shades, wisteria blooms are also available in:
- Pink
- White
- Mauve
- Lilac
- Violet
For multi-colored impact, train one vine of each color along fence sections for a rainbow-hued spring display. Just note white wisteria lacks scent compared to other colors.
Final Tips
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Use sturdy wooden or metal supports properly secured into the ground.
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Space supports at 60cm intervals.
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Tie in stems gently to prevent damage but securely so they cannot blow around.
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Prune side shoots back to two leaf joints in summer to encourage flower buds.
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Cut any unwanted whippy growth back to main stems in winter to shape.
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Grow against a warm wall or fence in full sun for best results.
With its cascading colorful and fragrant spring blooms, wisteria trained on a fence can create an incredible floral display. Follow these tips to successfully grow wisteria on fences.
Well-placed summer and winter cuts will keep this vigorous vine manageable
While searching for my first apartment in Brooklyn, I was shown a one bedroom on a quiet, tree-lined street. The apartment itself wasn’t memorable, but the building was: The entire brownstone was encased by an impenetrable mass of wisteria, windows and all. Covering a three-story building is no challenge for some vigorous wisteria vines, which are able to grow 10 feet or more in a single season. Yet for all its rampant behavior, a wisteria in full bloom is one of the loveliest sights.
Wisteria can live a long, healthy life with no pruning at all, happily twining, climbing, and sprawling over everything in its path. But for the gardener who has limited space and wants to enjoy more visible and abundant wisteria flowers, a pruning routine becomes a necessary chore. For optimal results, plan for at least a biannual (once in summer, once in winter) pruning regimen. Knowing how the vine grows will also aid in your success.
Living without windows is not for everybody, but with some initial planning and a commitment to regular pruning, no one has to.
Winter: Prune long shoots down to three or five buds
In late winter, prune the long shoots that have grown since the summer pruning down to three to five buds. Also remove any of last season’s unwanted long shoots, which will be more apparent now because the leafless framework will be exposed.
Even short branches should be cut to three to five buds to direct energy to flower production rather than vegetative growth.
wisteria summer training
FAQ
How do you train wisteria along a fence?
To prevent any long-term damage, tie in the wisteria shoots using wire to run alongside the fence rather than twine within. To train a wisteria on a fence, tie it in vertically until it has reached the desired height before guiding the branches horizontally where they are to flower.
How long does it take to train wisteria?
My trained wisteria tree, is not really a tree, but simply a young vine of a particularly large flowered form, pruned hard each year, which helps to force the vine into bloom. After ten years or so, the stem will be strong enough to stand alone, without a stake or rope to keep it erect.
How fast can you grow wisteria on a fence?
Wisterias are rapid growers and can shoot up 10 feet or more in a single growing season. That’s great if you want to quickly cover a fence or pergola, but you don’t want the vines to overrun your garden.
What is one of the biggest problems with having wisteria growing nearby?
However, this isn’t a vine for a flimsy fence or trellis and it usually isn’t a good idea to plant it against a building. Even native wisteria, which is less invasive than Japanese wisteria, tends to be aggressive and can destroy paint or crawl under siding.