Removing a dead wisteria

The deed is done.  The beautiful white wisteria which died so spectacularly in June (or earler, I didn’t notice) is no more.

One quick session with the chain saw and it’s down.

Actually I’m not sure all is lost as there are a few snaking tendrils below the point of the huge trunk where the soft spongy wood showed all the signs of death.

But will it turn back into a huge splendid feature on the east wall of the house?  I’m not sure.  And do I risk planting a rose in its place? I think not. I still don’t really know why the huge plant died. And whatever killed it might still be lurking in the soil.

Here is a reminder of its magnificence for three weeks every June.

And here it is dead.   Well, being winter you can’t really tell. Believe me. It has expired.

I’m not as sentimental as I should be. Those of you who grow wisteria will know that they are beasts.  High maintenance beasts. And this one reached such a height that it requires loppers, a long ladder and a strong head twice a year to stop it going all over the roof.

And in fact if you study the stone walls carefully, you can see some of the wisteria has grown right into the pointing. (Trust me, they are there. Top right of the wall.)

So it’s almost but not quite more trouble than it is worth. I would never have cut it down of course. But right now I’m just relieved it has gone.

And when I stop hacking and coughing and wheezing, I will collect all the bits and chip them.  Reduce them to something useful. Or at least move the mess out of the way.