When growing on a chain link fence or a trellis they might not require any support, however, to grow them up a flat surface will require some sort of support structure. To keep wisteria under control, prune vigorously. In some settings, wisteria gets treated as an environmental pest requiring rigorous measures of eradication. One row of brackets, spaced at 1-foot intervals, runs vertically up the center of the wall; the other rows run horizontally, spaced 2 to 3 feet apart. Wisteria makes a fabulous statement on a wall, fence or pergola. Wisteria is a seeking plant, and it will work its way into any nook or cranny thy find. Wisteria forms two sorts of shoots: shoots that turn into long leafy branches, and shoots that turn into short stumpy spurs off the long branches. The vines can reach lengths of up to 75 to 100-feet in length, and the vine gets heavy, especially when it starts to flower. On training and pruning, I'm sure others on this board are more expert than me but here is what I think you need to do. Growing wisteria in pots and containers is seldom successful, as the plants are so greedy when it comes to food and water. Wisteria is … Wisteria brachybotrys 'Okayama' is reasonably vigorous and an ideal for climbing up wires or trellis against a sunny wall or fence. It is the short stumpy spurs that form the flowers, so you want lots of them. When training wisteria vines, select an upright stem and attach it to the chosen support. Remove any side shoots and continue to train the main vine upwards. This involves selecting and tying-in specific main shoots to the supporting wires and cutting back any unwanted growth. Solutions. Most gardeners choose to grow wisteria up a wall or on a sturdy arbor or pergola. Wisteria floribunda 'Honbeni (Pink Ice)' Long panicles of lightly scented pink flowers in late spring or early summer up to approx 60 cm long once established. Even grapevines grow enthusiastically on aluminum fences. Other ways to train wisteria. For best results, keep these side branches spaced about 18 inches apart. New side branches can be trained as needed to fill in spaces of the support structure by attaching them where desired. With regular care and maintenance, your vines will grow exactly where you want them, providing extra privacy, camouflage, or decoration for your outdoor landscape. To prevent damage to your privacy fence, plant the wisteria away from it, or provide an additional support structure, such as a heavy trellis or arbor securely cemented into the ground. To establish it against a house wall, begin by screwing a series of 6- to 8-inch L-brackets to the support. Twining vines, such as Jasmine, Honeysuckle and Wisteria, grow long shoots from the main trunk and branches that wind around some type of support structure. Above: Wisteria needs a strong trellis support. If you’re lucky to own a fieldstone fence, that’s a good place to grow wisteria because you don’t have to worry about it getting into woodwork. Their durability and open-lattice framework provide an excellent foundation for a “living fence.” Wisteria, climbing hydrangea, rambling roses, and other heavy, strong woody vines that might overwhelm other fences are no match for aluminum, which withstands moisture and resists rust. In autumn and winter, prune side shoots to a length of 3 inches along main branches. The ideal way to grow wisteria against a wall is to train it as an espalier, with horizontal support wires (3mm galvanised steel) set 30cm (1ft) apart.Over time, and with pruning twice a year, plants will build up a strong spur system. Training vines to follow a fence, wall, or grow up a trellis takes time and some serious know-how. After your trellis is in place, tie individual branches to the cable to train it to grow alongside the grid. Image: ... During the first two years, the aim of pruning is to train wisteria to create a framework of permanent stems. On walls. However, wisteria is known for growing rapidly and taking over the local planting area. If you lack a suitable house wall, you can grow wisteria as a free-standing ‘standard’ on a 5ft bare stem.