Hi everyone! I'm seeking some gardening wisdom here. I'm trying to decide between planting wisteria or a climbing rose for my front garden. I'd love a climbing plant to frame my front door and living room window to give my home a cozy, cottage-like vibe. While I adore the look of roses (thinking specifically about the lovely Wollerton Old Hall variety), I've got concerns because deer occasionally visit my garden and they seem to have a taste for rose blooms.
Wisteria would definitely add beauty with its blooms, but I've heard they don't last long and might not guarantee annual flowers. Plus, I don't have much experience with wisteria maintenance, which worries me.
The front garden gets a good amount of sunlight as it faces south, and I need a plant that will thrive in my clay soil. I'm looking for something that can provide a bit of shade in the summer and of course, looks stunning with flowers—ideally something that will wow me with blooms within three years. I understand plants take time to grow, but I'm not keen on waiting too long for that 'wow' factor. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
I’d go for a climbing rose too! Wisteria can get out of hand and lead to drainage problems if left unchecked. Plus, I recall my own experience with wisteria—it was pretty but a maintenance nightmare! Roses can be messy too, but they usually offer more interesting blooms as well. It totally depends on the variety, but I think roses could work better for your garden.
I'd definitely lean towards a climbing rose! Wisteria can be a handful when it comes to maintenance; they don't bloom as reliably and need the right conditions to thrive. A nice trick you could try for deterring deer is sprinkling chili powder on the rose buds—it might help keep those munching guests away!
In this situation, roses are the way to go for sure! Even though wisteria is stunning, the blooms are quite fleeting. If you're worried about deer, maybe consider planting some deer-friendly flowers nearby, like pansies or runner beans, as a diversion.
Thanks for the insight! I didn't realize wisteria was so high-maintenance. Maybe roses are the safer bet!