Wisteria - HELP!

[clam]

I've just been told by our buildings insurance surveyor that my fantastic, established GLORIOUS wisteria is causing subsidence in our sitting room extension. Cracks appearing on walls!

The worst news is that we have to dig it up, I can't believe that I actually sat and cried, upon hearing this. I'm now wondering if there is any way I could possibly save it. There's no getting away from the fact that it needs to be removed, but does anyone know if it might survive (in severely pruned form) in a massive deep planter which I could water liberally??

for you. It's worth a try. My Granddad had a wisteria in a large pot for years, so I know that they can grow in containers. I'm sure if you can save enough roots and prune well, it can be saved.

I would be interested to see if you are successful, because I'd love to take ours with us if we ever move.

It's worth a shot.

I think it might just survive if it is in a huge pot (biggest you can get), you feed it regularly, and you take care that it doesn't get too wet.

I feel your pain. We have a huge Wisteria plant covering the front of the house that produces glorious flowers each spring. It collapsed a few days ago in the high winds and I had to chop much of it down.

A wisteria causing subsidence? really? trees yes, wisteria - well, to be honest I would definitely push for a second opinion. They aren't thirsty drinkers and that's generally the thing that causes the problem. Insurance companies are very quick to blame plants and trees for problems. Think of all the beautiful old houses you have seen with HUGE HUGE wisterias growing up them.

You can keep a wisteria in a pot but to be honest if it's really big enough to be damaging your house that's going to be one hell of a digging up job and the biggest pot you have ever seen.

Try making a new baby plant by layering here. You might be successful. Or just buy a new small (grafted) one and a wisteria umbrella to train it over.

MrsJohnDeere, your wisteria will survive and grow again. Very very fast. In fact, I would stand well back in case of getting entwined.

Well, the surveyor has had a re-think and decided it might just be shrinkage cracking. He has now said that if we lop it to half its current size, along with the magnolia tree, then he thinks it unlikely there'll be any further problem.

Worth a try...

Are you an RHS member? I'd try contacting their advisory service and see what they say.

Do you have to be a member of the RHS to ask?