Wisteria help

juliemcguire_1

I'm a novice gardener and have a wisteria that's at least 5.5 years old. It is flowering this year but I have no idea what to do with it. The vine is not thick at all. Any ideas? Can I cut it almost to the bottom and almost start again?

juliemcguire_1

Thank you!😊

juliemcguire_1

fidgetbones

I think that is grafted. If you cut it down low, you will have the rootstock only, which may take ages to flower, and probably not the cultivar you want.

Obelixx

I don't like the look of your system for tying it in.  Too restrictive.  I suggest you buy some decent galvanised wire and vine eyes from a good DIY shop and attach a row of horizontal wires stretched between the fence posts at 12"30cm intervals.

Then release you wisteria from its bonds and tie it in loosely to those wires with garden twine so it has room to grow but doesn't get blown about.   Check those ties every season to make sure they are not strangling t as it grows thicker.  Eventually it will become as thick as a tree trunk and be self supporting.

I'm assuming you want to encourage it to make more branches to spread horizontally and give extra flower power so, once the wisteria hits the top of the fence, pinch out the central shoot to encourage dormant side shoots to grow.

Fr now the only other pruning to be done is if you see any long whippy shoots forming.   In July/August you need to cut these back to 7 leaf nodes form the main stem.   In February/March you cut these back to two buds.  That process encourages flowering, as will a feed of rose or tomato fertilser now and every spring.

juliemcguire_1

Thank you so much. That makes so much more sense!

maggiemew1

is it necessary to have  the wisteria trunk wrap itself around a post?

sam bevington

Hi, we are having the ugly ground floor conservatory replaced with a posh oak orangery (get me!) in six weeks time. @ Obelix, it's very well established and flowers beautifully; I would estimate that 60% of the growth is on the stone cottage but we are going to have to deal with the wisteria that's living on the conservatory (the cream bit) - any advice?

Obelixx

@maggiemew1 No.  We inherited 2 wisteria when we moved her 3.5 years ago.  Both are free standing on their own trunks.  They've clearly had supports or guidance in the past but none left now.  They are currently in their second flush of flowers but these pics show their trunks - no winding 

@sam bevington Is the wisteria in the way?  Growing on a wall that will disappear or be rebuilt?  How long will the work take?  

If the wisteria is to stay you need to decide what can be removed form any wall supports and held safely out of the way maybe using guy ropes attached to a temporary post.   If that's not possible, you'll have to prune back branches that will be in the way and take steps to protect the trunk and roots?  Treat it as renovation pruning as described lower down on this link - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=242#:~:text=Cut%20back%20the%20whippy%20green,buds%20rather%20than%20green%20growth.

sam bevington

Thanks Obelixx, the wall will be rebuilt and anticipate 6 weeks for the work.  Great idea putting a post in, I take it July is a good time to prune?

Obelixx

That's when one of the two annual prunes gets done anyway so yes, I expect it's OK.