Pruning wisteria with West Sussex Pruning and Planting Specialists Chantry Green!

Yesterday was all about pruning!

My wisteria needed some TLC, so I was joined by the wonderful Miles from Chantry Green, an absolute expert when it comes to everything gardening!

Wisteria is actually quite easy to look after. All you need to do is make sure that it is pruned twice a year. Once in the Summer (around July, August) after it's flowered and once in the Winter (January, February) which will encourage better flowering.

Wisteria branches tend to get a little messy as they reach for the sky, wrapping themselves around pipes and even twisting themselves around each other! Fascinatingly, one species (Wisteria floribunda) grows clockwise and another (Wisteria sinensis) anti-clockwise.

The trick is to prune the long tendrils back until there are about two or three buds remaining. Work your way along the branch that has been supported and trained by your wiring, pruning back each of the side shoots.

Those shorter stems and their remaining buds should produce some lovely flowers this year, all a lot more uniform in their positioning.

If you happen to cut back something you didn't mean to, don't panic! Wisteria is a very strong and vigerous plant and will grow back very easily.

When encountering broken areas, locate the next bud down and just cut to there. This should encourage new, healthier growth.

A top tip when pruning is to ensure you are really utilising the work of the secateurs. If you place the stem right into the blades and cut at an angle you produce a clean cut. Clean cuts ensure minimal damage to the plant and reduce the risk of rot.

Be mindful with regards to downpipes and any other utilities you may have around in the growth area of your wisteria. As the stems get thicker, they can get trapped behind the equipment. They can actually be strong enough to pull downpipes from the walls!

Gently but firmly pull and untwist any wisteria that is starting to intrude on these areas. Then decide if you would like to train them to head elsewhere.

Training your wisteria to follow a length of wire (we use a nylon wire as we find it doesn't rub as much as metal does) is simple.

Just work out the length of branch you require to fill your wire, then tie the branches you wish to train to it using stretchy ties.

We find hollow stretchy ties (available in most garden centres) are kinder to the plants. They allow a good amount of growth without any risk of damage upon width expansion.

Pop your stretchy tie around the wire and create a knot first. This gives the branch a little cushion to stop it from rubbing on the wire. Then attach your branch, reasonably tight but not too restrictive.

I like to attach knots every 18 inches or so. Don't worry too much about any kinks currently in the branch, they'll straighten themselves out as they grow.

Do you have any top tips for wisteria? Let me know in the comments below!

Love,