Summer pruning

When it comes to pruning wisteria people can often get confused about what needs doing and when. Actually it's not complicated: it's all about controlling the size of what is a very vigorous plant and improving flowering. In summer we prune after flowering, by cutting back the whippy green shoots of the current year’s growth to five or six leaves. In fact we're doing this rather late here as traditionally this is a job for July and August - but it's been so wet this summer and it'll be fine. Then when the plant is dormant in January or February we can cut back the shoots we pruned in summer to two or three buds, to tidy things up ahead of active growth in the Spring. If you follow this two-stage process you'll promote greater numbers of flowers and be able to see them more easily too. Sorted!