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Old Wisteria Pruning

sophiecarran90433sophiecarran90433 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hello, I have inherited a beautiful well-established wisteria. The last couple of summers it hasn't been cut back enough and has grown too big. I'd really like cut it right back so I'm almost starting again but looking at it, if I do this I may be left with branches with no younger bud-producing branches. If I do this will branches grow from the older ones in spring? Hope someone can help! Much appreciated, Sophie 

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You can cut it hard back. Don't expect flowers this year, Use the new shoots to form a new framework. I cut a 30 year old wisteria down to a foot high stump last summer(wrong time to prune) six weeks later it was sending up loads  of new shoots.  You should be able to cut it back hard to the original trained framework.
  • sophiecarran90433sophiecarran90433 Posts: 6
    Thanks so much for your reply. I will give it a go in the next week or so. It was my Dad who planted it and I'd hate to kill it off. Plus my neighbours all love it too. I did think it might mean it won't flower this year...but as long as there's always next year.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We have inherited 2 which were disappearing under gutters and other inb  appropriate places so that first winter we took every one of those stems and shortened any others exceeding their bounds.  That still left enough framework to get a decent display and yes, there was lots of new growth come spring.

    I read all the pruning advice about cutting back to 2 buds in Feb and 7 buds in July but, frankly, they're too big for all that counting so I just tdy it back quite hard every Feb to a reasonable framework and then in summer I cut back any long whippy stems that try to mug me and also new shoots appearing from the trunks which I like to keep bare.

    I've also planted a new, almost white one elsewhere and am following the pruning rules there while it gets established.   It's proving so vigorous I'll need to give it a new fraework this spring.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sophiecarran90433sophiecarran90433 Posts: 6
    Great, thanks for replying. What's putting me off is all the talk of buds. If I cut this back really hard to where I'd like to. There literally won't be any buds! So I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be killing it for future years (appreciate it may mean there are no bids or flowers this year).
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It's up to you really isn't it but I don't think it'l curl up and die.  Best get on tho as the sap will already be rising.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sophiecarran90433sophiecarran90433 Posts: 6
    Yes I know! Especially as it's been pretty mild. 
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    sophiecarran90433 said:
    Great, thanks for replying. What's putting me off is all the talk of buds. If I cut this back really hard to where I'd like to. There literally won't be any buds! So I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be killing it for future years (appreciate it may mean there are no bids or flowers this year).

    I've followed the 2 bud rule in Feb and found it too harsh for my Wisteria Sinensis which never flowers following such a hard prune, despite it being a fairly mature plant. 

    Having read the guides online and watched videos the advice always seems to be coming from some National Trust gardener with a gazillion year old gnarly monster specimen that doesn't seem to mind a hard prune as its been cut that way for hundreds of years.

    For us mortals, a bit of common sense civilising at the end of the summer seems to work fine.
  • sophiecarran90433sophiecarran90433 Posts: 6
    Hi, thanks for your reply. Mine are about 20 years old. I can't leave them until end of the summer (when I also usually prune them) as they'll be out of control by then. One is on the front of the house and has a penchant for my window shutters. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Then start by pruning away all the stems going in the wrong direction - windows, roof, gutters, doorways etc.   Then shape what's left as best you can.   Mine are too big to do the strict 2 and 7 pruning system.  I'd be there for days just counting.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sophiecarran90433sophiecarran90433 Posts: 6
    Thanks, yes I'm fine with doing the newer, thinner shoots creeping their way up, like I said, it's the cutting down the thicker ones without buds that worried me. Just wanted to know if they would sprout new shoots in time. 
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