Latest news with #wisteria
Times
28-06-2025
- General
- Times
How do I grow a climber on my house?
I want to start growing a climber over the back of my 1890s end-of-terrace house. Do you have any tips for choosing one that doesn't need too much attention? I'm leaning towards a wisteria or a Virginia creeper. What do I need to know? Any tips for when to plant, how to prune and so on? Also, I'm a tad worried that planting a climber close to a house could cause damage to the property. Is this something I should be concerned about? Jennifer Way, London Climbers fall into two camps: 'self-clingers' that stick like Spider-Man to walls, and 'scramblers' that require the support of wires, trellis or a tree to clamber skywards. The latter is the only choice if your bricks and mortar are crumbly — scramblers will clad, not cling, to a wall's surface. Wires, held proud of the wall on loop-head screws (commonly known as vine eyes) are the most economical and least visible supports. Space 45cm apart across the scrambling chocolate vine (Akebia quinata), for example — its summer flowers have a vanilla aroma. Or passion flower can be planted at the base and left to it. If you're prepared to prune twice a year and wait a few seasons, wisteria will bring bags of cottage garden charm. There are lots of excellent varieties including whites and pinks but if it's a classic violet you're after, strongly scented 'Amethyst' is excellent. Always buy wisteria labelled as 'grafted' because these plants come into bloom more quickly and have better flowers than cheaper seed-grown equivalents. If your wall is sound, self-clingers like trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) will add a tropical touch and zingy orange summer flowers. Hydrangea seemannii is classy and cool with white blooms and large lustrous leaves that stay evergreen in most city gardens. Unless you're good on a ladder avoid Virginia creeper and Boston ivy, which will be over your roof if left unchecked. You can plant climbers now provided you keep the soil well-watered through summer. They won't damage foundations or the wall provided you plant 60cm away from the wall with the top angled towards the brickwork. Toby Buckland, presenter of Gardeners' World, Woman dusting heating radiator with a duster at home, copy space GETTY I'm spring-cleaning. What's the best way to get the dust out from behind a radiator? DB Wrap a cloth in rough gathers around a bamboo stick and either tie or tape it in place. Then work gently up and down and sideways against the wall and radiator. A feather duster or nozzle attachment of a vacuum cleaner might be sufficient. Rosemary Morton Jack, Oxfordshire Long narrow brushes do the job. You can find them at Lakeland. Hannah Colton, London I found the best way is to use a hairdryer to blow air at the highest speed from the top of the radiator downwards. Then just vacuum the embarrassingly large amount of dust that comes out of the bottom. Anne Duncan I bought shisha pipe cleaners in the Middle East for this. They work brilliantly. In the UK, try or other online suppliers. Sarah T What is the best dog hair vacuum cleaner? My old one is kaput. Advice please. KB Send tips and questions to homehelp@ Advice given without responsibility
Irish Times
15-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
‘How can I make my wisteria and clematis-clad wall look less bare in winter?'
We have an east-facing gable wall, covered in wisteria and clematis. It looks stunning from April to October with blooms and foliage. However, for five months of the year it looks pretty dismal. The wall badly needs painting. Are there masonry paints we can apply after pruning that will not adversely affect plants? P Duffy Ornamental climbers are a wonderful way to soften bare walls, adding many months of interest as well as helping to integrate built structures such as houses and sheds into the garden and wider landscape. But as you point out, the struggle is providing year-round interest, with many of these climbers being either deciduous (like wisteria) or herbaceous (examples include many but not all kinds of clematis). Introducing some evergreen species is one solution, such as the very vigorous Clematis armandii, which will cope quite well with an east-facing wall so long as your garden is mild and relatively sheltered. Other suitable candidates include the evergreen Trachelsopermum jasminoides and Trachelospermum asiaticum, both of which prefer a sunny spot but will also cope with a shady wall so long as it's a relatively mild, protected garden, or the shade-tolerant, evergreen Hydrangea seemannii and Hydrange serratifolia. Traditional climbers aside, you could also consider ornamental evergreen shrubs suitable for training against a wall, including the wonderful Itea ilicifolia, Azara microphylla, Garrya elliptica, and varieties of Mahonia x media. All the above will do an excellent job of cloaking the bare masonry and minimising the need to paint the wall. Ornamental varieties of ivy are another option but do bear in mind its tendency to romp, as well as to probe small gaps in masonry walls, fascia boards and guttering unless regularly pruned to keep it firmly in shape. READ MORE As for painting your wall, I highly recommend the Little Green Company's range of environmentally friendly, water-based, intelligent masonry paints ( ). These are relatively odourless, quick-drying, long-lasting, and available in a range of colours.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Home Bargains' £7 décor buy adds a ‘magical touch' to your garden & it's great if you've got an ugly wall or fence
A BUDGET buy can help to instantly elevate your garden this summer. It is said to add a "magical touch" by replicating an iconic style seen in areas such as Notting Hill. 2 While peak wisteria season in London lasts from late April to early May, you can bring the colouful touch to your garden all summer long. The iconic climbing purple plant can be spotted in a variety of London neighbourhoods, and also famously covers the front of the Bridgerton house from the hit Netflix show. But now you can achieve this look for just £6.99, with a quick trip to Home Bargains. The Firefly Wisteria String Solar Lights are described as a "charming" addition to your garden. According to the product description, this buy will "add a magical touch to your garden or patio, casting a warm and inviting glow". "The enchanting beauty of Wisteria String Solar Lights embraces the magic of wisteria blossom vine with lights," manufacturers said. These practical yet stylish buys can help to turn your space into a "haven of warmth and style". They are perfect for "softening hard lines" as well as "topping large planters, raised flower beds, fence, and walls". The lights measure 1.9 metres in length with an additional two metre lead which means they can be strung along the top of a wall or hide an ugly fence. While they normally emitt a warm white LED light, there is still a chance of flashing and static with these bargain buys. Mrs Hinch raves about £2 Home Bargains buy that 'adds charm to your garden' & a £10 product that's 'cheaper than Amazon' These sttring lights automatically turn on at dusk with a rechargeable battery included. There is also a remote solar panel included with the string lights. Manufacturers recommend the lights for outdoor use only. Meanwhile, Amazon has a £14 privacy buy that is described as "perfect" for summer. Another privacy fence is also available from Amazon, for just £5. B&Q has an affordable privacy fence currently on sale, and you can put it up yourself. And a £10 B&M product adds inches to your fence, elevating your garden's privacy. You can also add a stylish touch to your privacy fence with another B&M buy. And its not just fences that can help give you privacy in your garden, one B&M item can help shield you from nosy neighbours and the sun. Meanwhile, another Home Bargains buy is said to add a touch of glamour to your garden. 2
