I have a free standing wisteria, but OH banged it a sturdy wooden post to attach it to. You have to keep on top of the pruning. You can buy umbrella shaped supports.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Beautiful pictures and some very healthy looking wisteria ?. How do I go about "starting over" What can I cut off to start producing one main trunk? I want it to be at least 6-8" thick and maybe 3-4ft before I start letting it branch out at the top. Thanks, Sam.
If you have two shoots at the moment, let one wind around the other. They will fuse eventually/ When they get to the height you want it to branch, pinch it out to make side shoots. Train side shoots into a star shape over an umbrella type support. Make it a strong support,(wrought iron) as once the wisteria wraps around it, it is impossible to get off. The trunk will get thicker with age.
I always prefer my plants to be reached without ladders, so when my wisteria reached the height I liked, I cut off her top, kept pruning anything that grew longer than I liked at any time of the year. New shoots growing next to the main stem, I wound around it, thus looking as if there was just one stem. After a few years, I had more than I liked, so I removed some of the older shoots. My wisteria is self-supporting.
So, Sam, it's really simple but keep your secateurs sharp!
When you say you cut off the top do you mean everything? Do I leave some leaves on? I'm a complete garden novice although I do grow my own veg so have a little experience in the garden in that area. I've never cared for a big plant/tree/vine like this.
Can anyone take me through the steps of what I need to do with an 8ft wisteria to have it eventually free standing? I'm aware this is a lengthy process but I have a lot of patience. Can I cut it all back to about 10" from the graft and keep one shoot with leaves on? Help!
I have 2 established wisteria with thick trunks and then plenty of horizontal, spreading branches. We have bought a 3rd which I may train as a standard but haven't decided yet as it is white and I fancy a wall of white flowers dripping along a pergola or trellis.
I have a new wisteria in a pot supported by rowan coppiced stem. it has now reached about 6' and I would like it to stop and bush out. It also needs a larger pot. I assume from the comments that I will need to retain the support for some time and cut off the growing tip? I plan to repot it in the early winter.
Read the RHS article. Pruning is a bit different for creating a standard. If you cut the growing tip all you'll get henceforth are laterals so be sure about what height it's at when you do stop it.
The support will be needed till the plant's own stem is thick enough and sturdy enough to support the top on its own and in all weathers without breaking.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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I have a free standing wisteria, but OH banged it a sturdy wooden post to attach it to. You have to keep on top of the pruning. You can buy umbrella shaped supports.
And here is mine. She's over 30 years old.
Gosh, she's like a bonsai! Mine has a much taller trunk.
Beautiful pictures and some very healthy looking wisteria ?. How do I go about "starting over" What can I cut off to start producing one main trunk? I want it to be at least 6-8" thick and maybe 3-4ft before I start letting it branch out at the top. Thanks, Sam.
If you have two shoots at the moment, let one wind around the other. They will fuse eventually/ When they get to the height you want it to branch, pinch it out to make side shoots. Train side shoots into a star shape over an umbrella type support. Make it a strong support,(wrought iron) as once the wisteria wraps around it, it is impossible to get off. The trunk will get thicker with age.
I always prefer my plants to be reached without ladders, so when my wisteria reached the height I liked, I cut off her top, kept pruning anything that grew longer than I liked at any time of the year. New shoots growing next to the main stem, I wound around it, thus looking as if there was just one stem. After a few years, I had more than I liked, so I removed some of the older shoots. My wisteria is self-supporting.
So, Sam, it's really simple but keep your secateurs sharp!
I wish I knew how to cut the grass.
When you say you cut off the top do you mean everything? Do I leave some leaves on? I'm a complete garden novice although I do grow my own veg so have a little experience in the garden in that area. I've never cared for a big plant/tree/vine like this.
Can anyone take me through the steps of what I need to do with an 8ft wisteria to have it eventually free standing? I'm aware this is a lengthy process but I have a lot of patience. Can I cut it all back to about 10" from the graft and keep one shoot with leaves on? Help!
I have 2 established wisteria with thick trunks and then plenty of horizontal, spreading branches. We have bought a 3rd which I may train as a standard but haven't decided yet as it is white and I fancy a wall of white flowers dripping along a pergola or trellis.
I found this information on the RHS site - pruning in general plus, if you scroll down, how to make a standard form - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=242
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
I have a new wisteria in a pot supported by rowan coppiced stem. it has now reached about 6' and I would like it to stop and bush out. It also needs a larger pot. I assume from the comments that I will need to retain the support for some time and cut off the growing tip? I plan to repot it in the early winter.
Read the RHS article. Pruning is a bit different for creating a standard. If you cut the growing tip all you'll get henceforth are laterals so be sure about what height it's at when you do stop it.
The support will be needed till the plant's own stem is thick enough and sturdy enough to support the top on its own and in all weathers without breaking.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw