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To keep Wisteria under control they should be pruned
twice each year. Prune like this to ensure maximum flower and the pruning will also keep
your Wisteria within set limits!
Autumn Pruning
of Wisterias
This involves pruning all of the current side-shoot growths back to within 30cms of
the main lateral. This should leave 4-6 leaves on each side-shoot. Any side
shoot required to extend or train the framework should be left and trained as
required and not be pruned!
Winter Pruning of
Wisteria
In January/February,
prune the Wisteria side shoots back even further - 6-10cm long,
leaving only 2 or 3 buds
on the side-shoot. These will be the flowering spurs on your wisteria. There is
no need to prune the wisteria to an outward facing bud.
These pruning operations
should be carried out each year. The only shoots to be left 'unscathed' are
those which are required to extend the size or direction of your wisteria.
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A wisteria side shoot -
lateral, ready to be cut back hard in late winter pruning (Jan/Feb). |
The lateral -
having been cut back to 3 buds from the main branch leader. The pruning
cut is immediately above a bud. |
A great specimen of wisteria, that has
been pruned correctly.
Regular Pruning of this wisteria is
essential, for whilst it has the space to roam
unhindered, the pathway below would soon be rendered
unusable as the wisteria would soon take over the whole
arch.
The main reason for
pruning wisterias in the manner described above, is for
all of the 'energy' of the plant to be focussed on the
flower buds - near the main stem, and not diverted into
the stem growth system at the expense of flowers. If you
decide not to prune your wisteria, then over the years the
flowers on the plant will become smaller - for the energy
will be focussed on providing new stem growth. So, prune
you Wisterias regularly to be sure of larger flowers.
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