Russian Vine

I've a Russian Vine that I want to trail theougha large trellis. Its now about 4 ft high, but its only one stem. Should I pinch the top out to make it bush and produce more stems, or should I just let it grow?

I hope one of you wonderfully experience gardeners can point me in the right direction! Thanks

Hazyp

 

Hazy, you DO realise how big this plant is going to get, do you? We are talking in excess of FORTY feet.:D

 

I should think you can do pretty much what you think with it...one things for sure, it won't die and it won't stop growing!!:D

p.s. the pic on the right in my sig is my cat on top of a 6ft fence in amongst the rusian vine at my old house, I'm not saying we had to resort to moving house to escape the dreaded vine but...

 

Russion vine :eek:. I made the mistake once of planting one - it went mad, smothered everything in sight. Took me months to get rid of it - never again.

 

Lol Hazy bet you didn't think you would get such a reaction as that?:D

I have to admit we brought one for our old gardens as we wanted something to grow really fast up a trellis to cover the view of the neighbours at the bottom of our garden boy did it do as we wished. :eek:

It was a real nightmare after only a year or two and looked a proper mess the flowers leave a lot to be desired and the leaves just look like weeds sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you want a quick climber that looks stunning both when it flower and not too bad afterwards I would swap the Russian Vine for a lovely Clematis Montana.

Russian Vine is also known as 'Mile a minute' ok it might not grow as fast as that but it does seem so even over just one season.Hel.xxx.

 

Hazyp, they are right you know........you will live to regret it. I still haven't manage to get shot of all my Russian Vine, everytime I think I have another bit pops up elsewhere. Now Clematis Montana as Hel says is a much nicer option.

 

Thank you all for your advice...I had read how much it takes over, but I've actually planted it in one of those half beer barrels. the old wooden type. So I'm hoping that by doing this it shouldnt get too bad, and that if I want to get rid of it I can just chop it off at the roots.

But then again...do you know if this would work?

 

Hazy you should be alright doing that although as I wrote before you could be well let down regarding the look of the vine as it's far from being a beauty.Fingers crossed things will work out well for you and if you do put it in a container just remember to water it well.Hel.xxx.

 

I loved the look of mine - it was the size I had issues with!

 

Wouldn't go near it!!!! Don't want it, and never will!

 

Hazy, what`s the barrel stood on?

 

Noooooooo. Russian vine gets everywhere, and it is an escape artist. It will first establish a good root system, growing slowly as it does so, then its off. I've heard it referred to as "mile a minute vine" and the one that is in my garden (planted before I came here) is testament to that.

One day, you'll go on holiday for a week or two. It will wait for you to go. Then while you're away, it will send one of it's evil tendrils out of it's bucket, and seek out some soil or anything moist, then root, and then it's off.

 

" One day, you'll go on holiday for a week or two"

I think sending it a "wish you were" here postcard was a mistake :D

 

I will go for a Russian vine only if I did not like my neighbours.

 

We inherited one when we moved in, it had destroyed the fences it was growing against. literally forced them appart, its gone now (thankfully) and fences replaced. I would never suggest it for a garden.