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Wisteria in it's first year

Dueinf April & are successfully growing it up a pergola. Very pleased with the amount of growth, since planting. Now wondering if to prune at this time.

Plant has got the top of the pergola & many shoots are appearing.

Can you give us some advice on pruning our plant. What we have read about pruning but advise seems apt for plants that have finished flowering.

 

Hi @pbd

Thanks for your question on Wisteria pruning. Make sure you read my comprehensive Wisteria guide here and the two videos below. 

https://youtu.be/nIy3vFeeHNk?si=lN00Eg9W6Pmz6ekR

 

You need to prune all wisteria even young ones to 6 shoots in summer and then 3 in spring. Which confuses people who want to smother a trellis or pergola with wisteria. The thing is it will smother the trellis but at the absence of flowers. Believe me that pruning each year will encourage vigour and flowers. Wisteria puts on feet of growth each year so can cope with it. 

Now yours is at the desired height definitely prune each side shoot (lateral) back to 6 and top out the main stem. Cut this off. It will still grow. Each year it will put on lots of growth but the 6 and 3 rule keeps it’s energy focused on flowers. 

Hope that helps!

Lee

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