Care of unruly hardy (artic) Kiwi Vine

paulmellor

Hi 

We moved into a new house about 4 years ago in Saskatoon, Canada and inherited a lovely mature garden. There were many plants, trees and shrubs that we had to identify and learn to care for. There is also a hardy (artic) kiwi vine that grows up a trellis and acts as a screen from the neighbours. Unfortunately in our haste to learn about all our other new plants we neglected the kiwi. It's now a bit out of control growing and twisting within its self and starting to extend away from the trellis as a mass. I'd like to get it under control but I'm unsure where to start. I don't know if cutting it back to the main stems will damage it and if I do this how long it will take to come back to function as a screen again. Spring was late here this year and there are no buds on the vine yet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Paul

Blue Onion

https://extension.psu.edu/hardy-kiwi-in-the-home-fruit-planting

This site has some useful information and diagrams.  They say December to March for pruning.. so best get it done tomorrow. 🥝

paulmellor

Thanks for the link. I've seen a number of sites like this but I'm still not sure what to do in my situation when the vine has lost its training. I don't care about fruit this year, I just want to get some control back. 

treehugger80

take it back to a stump about 6inches tall and it will regrow this year, just keep on top of training it in, these things can grow inches a day in summer!

paulmellor

Thanks. So will the new growth come from the top of the stump or the ground? Then do I train one main stem until I reach the top of the trellis or keep it a certain distance below the top? Sorry for the basic questions but I'm still trying to learn about this.

paulmellor

So I gave it a go and removed pretty much everything. There is a make and female and I left 2 stems on each and I'll pick the best. Hopefully this works or I'm on big trouble. 

Blue Onion

Looks good!  (Now you have the opportunity to repaint the trellis while it's so bare). 

paulmellor

Ha thanks. The stems of the vine on the right both have new buds but the stems of the one on the right don't. Hopefully it just starts growing later than the other one and they're not dead.