How long before climbing hydrangea grows back please?

15 years ago

I did a lot of searching for a similar question about climbing hydrangeas before posting this, but did not see any.

A neighbor friend, who has done some wonderful work around the house, pulled down and chopped off about 4-5 feet of climbing hydrangea I'd been waiting 4-5 years to grow up the east side brick wall of my house. What used to be a beautifully maturing vine is now a 2.5 to 3 ft. clump of chopped-off branches.

I believe I read that one of the things that makes a climbing hydrangea finally take off and start growing more quickly is the establishment of a large and healthy root system. The plant certainly still has that, so I am hoping that with plenty of water, some 10-0-10 and some compost, that it won't take another 4-5 years before it gets back to where it was.

Also, there are shoots growing out away from the wall, along the ground. I am thinking if I prune those away before the vine starts to leaf out, the plant will put its energy into growing vertically, so as to re-cover the wall more quickly.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
15 years ago
It should recover pretty rapidly - I'd be surprised if it wasn't back to where it was before the chop job in a season or two. And skip the fertilizer. Applying compost is all that is necessary. Hydrangeas don't require a lot of fertilizing and encouraging too rapid growth can create problems. And pruning off side shoots can help.

You are thinking in the right direction :-) Just a little patience needed.
mishmont
15 years ago
I have a similar problem. A "landscaper" mowed down a mature hydrangea, about 3' x 3', four years ago. Although thriving well, it hasn't bloomed since then. Prior to that, for three years it was a prolific bloomer. Shall I just wait and see or is there something I can do?
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grow95
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you so much for your reply! I'd thought I'd read in Dirr's excellent volume on Trees/Vines, etc that Climbing Hydrangeas start slowly, but that once the root system becomes established, they grow more rapidly. Thank you so much for your encouragement! Dirr also refers to the Climbing Hydrangea as "the best vine." I am more partial, actually, to wisterias, but they get so rampant, and put out so many runners that they can be troublesome. I planted several at the bases of some large Maple trees on the property, as I figure they can go as wild as they want on the trees. But a wisteria against the house? No thank you.
Thanks again!