Well, CH has some aerial rootlets on the stems that allow it to "grab" hold of a rough surface. Think: bricks, a wooden fence, trees. As you discovered, a wooden lattice or trellis -I think- would not last too long before a large CH "disassembles" it: :o)

That reminds of a visit I paid to the Tyler Municipal Rose Gardens years ago. They were having a similar problem with one of the climbing roses. Originally, they built a wooden structure for an aggressive climbing rose and, when I visited, the plant was hige and they were in process of replacing the wooden structure with a metal structure that could handle the weight. The original structure was tilting and no one was allowed anymore under and around it.

In your case, you could try to special order a skeleton made of wood or (better yet, some other hardier metal?). Neither of those is a brick, a fence or a tree. And metal is hard for aerial roots to climb so you may have to "help." Fortunately, metal can support the weight and can last longer than wood.

Or you could prune CH heavily to fit the trellis you are thinking of getting and let CH start growing again into the trellis. Of course, in 25 more years, the story may repeat itself since they live for a long time.

Thanks. So I would put the hog wire trellis in front of the lattice, and attach it to the deck structure somehow?

That, or have it be free standing with supports of its own, or a combination of the two. If possible, I'd attach to the supports of the deck with brackets that extend out.

tj

I wouldn't suggest hogwire. Hydrangeas climb by root attachment - they produce small aerial rootlets along the stems that grasp rough surfaces and adhere. They are unable to grasp wire or any kind so you would need to tie any branching to attach to the hogwire. You could encourage/help them to grow up the hogwire support but they will need something wider and flatter once they reach the top or you risk the climber blowing off in a good wind.

Even wooden trellising or lattice is not a very appropriate support. These get to be very heavy plants in time.

Well, given that the plant is not near a rough surface, and cannot be transplanted, what would you suggest?

The wood lattice is the best solution given your choices. Just make sure it is very firmly attached to the deck and any uprights. I would tend to agree that it was just the age of the previous lattice and usual wood decay and not necessarily the weight of the hydrangea that pulled it down.

Before the collapse and when it was fully extended did the hydrangea reach the actual deck? Did any part of it rest on the deck or deck railings?

It began to get as high as the deck but not as high as the railings. We managed to keep it from attaching itself to the deck surface.