My climbing hydrangeas has grown behind my drainpipe and is starting to push it away from the wall. I have tried to pry the vine from behind the pipe, but it won’t move. Should I cut the plant off at the base of the pipe so that that part dies? Thank you for your help.
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners regarding pruning your climbing hydrangea.
Climbing hydrangea, (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) is native to the Himalayas and China. It a vigorous beautiful woody plant, thus the ability to push your drain pipe out from the wall. Its branches may be easily trained to conform to its growing environment which you can continue to do so once you have resolved the problem. According to Dyer at https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/climbing-hydrangea/climbing-hydrangea-pruning.htm, you can prune off the problematic part and even the whole plant at the base and it will grow back “better than ever”. Ensure that all tools used in pruning are disinfected between cuts.
For more information, please see: https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/pruning-a-beautiful-20-year-old-climbing-hydrangea-a-few-questions
Good luck with your pruning.
April 24, 2021