Concerns About Wisteria and Property Damage

AdventureRocks

FlorayG said:

At only 14 years old it should be easy to remove completely.
Wisteria on old buildings isn't such a concern because a lot of them are so old they don't have modern foundations and anyway the wisteria has already done all the damage possible. On a newer build ( less than 100 years old) it shouldn't be planted right up against the house anyway.
If you leave it yes you will get insects and bits of leaves stuck down behind it when it sheds that will hold water and cause damp on the brickwork
Another point to consider is that to keep a wisteria looking good and flowering well is a LOT of work - I'm a very keen gardener and I wouldn't have one. They have to be carefully pruned twice a year and done in the correct way, otherwise you get no flowers. Unless you absolutely love this plant I would take it out anyway, potential damage or no 

Thanks for the advice!

It is a build that is around 20 years old. Would this cause other issues with it being a newer builder than the older properties you describe

FreeBear

fatbelly said: Wisteria is slow growing and not aggressive. they take many years to start flowering.

Whilst wisteria is not rampant like say russian vine, it is a vigorous plant and can grow 3m each year. See https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/wisteria/growing-guide

sheramber

FlorayG said:

At only 14 years old it should be easy to remove completely.
Wisteria on old buildings isn't such a concern because a lot of them are so old they don't have modern foundations and anyway the wisteria has already done all the damage possible. On a newer build ( less than 100 years old) it shouldn't be planted right up against the house anyway.
If you leave it yes you will get insects and bits of leaves stuck down behind it when it sheds that will hold water and cause damp on the brickwork
Another point to consider is that to keep a wisteria looking good and flowering well is a LOT of work - I'm a very keen gardener and I wouldn't have one. They have to be carefully pruned twice a year and done in the correct way, otherwise you get no flowers. Unless you absolutely love this plant I would take it out anyway, potential damage or no 

My neighbour has one growing over a fence. When it gets untidy she hacks the excess off.

It continued to grow and flower every year.

AdventureRocks

Is there a tree variety of wisteria, and could some of the alarming articles online be referring to the tree version, rather than the vine? Or are they essentially the same?

twopenny

Wisteria grows close to many buildings around Europe and seems to do no damage.

I must admit I'm 50/50 about it but I've travelled lots and seen it growing right against walls for many years with no damage.

But It's something that concerns you a lot and taking it out is a bad idea as maybe, letting it stay. You obviously don't love it.

So I think you should move on and find a plant free house that you are happy with.

shinytop

We had a very old wisteria growing right against the wall of an even older garage/outbuilding. It had caused a lot of damage including distorting the wall.  I hacked it out/down and repointed the wall. 

FreeBear

AdventureRocks said:

Is there a tree variety of wisteria, and could some of the alarming articles online be referring to the tree version, rather than the vine? Or are they essentially the same?

Wisteria is a climbing vine. However, it can be grown as a standard (fancy name for a tree) given the right support and pruning regimen.