When should I prune a japanese wisteria?

If at all! I'm in South Wales.


Many thanks

When should I prune a japanese wisteria?
Just to add ref. the careful pruning of Wisteria -





Prune once or twice a year, the later summer pruning being the most important.





Pinch back those long new shoots to about a 1/3 of their length, or around 12'' long, then the same with the side shoots that come from these. This slows the sap and induces more flowering, as it does with many flowering plants. It also helps to thicken the shortened stems, which is part of the way it encourages flowers to form for the next year. Plus it lets the sun ripen the shoots so that they get more woody.





Major pruning may be necessary with old died-out thicker woody parts too, or where protruding into areas where not desired. Do this from late autumn to around February. And get a sunny position for its growth, as the more shaded parts will probably flower less. You can train Wisterias to grow into gaps caused due to pruning or poorer growth spots.





Good luck! Rob
Reply:The pruning of such a plant is an art form of sorts. Allow the blooms to completely die back. With hand pruning only remove the branch back to where the bloom originated. You can find this at the area where the cutting you are making is light green and the branch a darker green or brown. Take this opportunity to remove any dead and to thin the center of the shrub.


Once you prune make sure that it has water and nutrients for recovery. I suggest a granular feeding of a 10-10-10 with minerals fertilizer applied outside the dripline of the shrub. Apply from the dripline to a minimum of four inches from the dripline at a rate of 1lb/1,000 sq ft.


Shape the plant, again with hand prune, in late June (post Wimbeldon) and apply the fert at 1/2 lb rate. In October prune the dead and unwanted growth and apply the 1/2lb again. This will give the new flowers a stronger color.


Make sure you shield you shrub from both disease and from unruly conditions. Mulch the shrub from one inch away from the base, at a three inch max. level with a Shreeded Hardwood or Shred Cypress Mulch. Treat the mulch with a granular application of Sevin to prevent insects. Add Bone Meal to the soil after the Spring Pruning at the lowest rate by the manufacturer for a disease resistant and healthier plant.


Hope this helps. Let me know if it does at gjgjobs@yahoo.com.
Reply:you need to summer prune it and winter prune it ... e-mail me privately and i can tell you more
Reply:Summer Pruning


Allow only one strong leader to develop from the end of each main framework branch without pruning it and stretch and attach this shoot along the support. Cut off the ends of all new side shoots just beyond the sixth or seventh leaf as soon as that leaf develops. New shoots will form as a result of these cuts. As they do, cut them back as soon as only one or two leaves develop.





Late Winter Pruning





Cut unpruned leader shoots back to one-half or two-thirds their length. Cut side shoots pruned the previous summer back to only one to two inches from their base for short flowering spurs.





This method of pruning allows permanent framework branches to extend each year by half the annual growth and side shoots to become short flowering spurs.





Maintenance Pruning


Once the vine has been trained into the allotted space, follow summer pruning practices as outlined above. In winter, prune leader shoots back to only four or five buds. Remove any suckers that appear at the base of the plant.
Reply:I dont know, but this people seems to know:





http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55391/index...
Reply:Japanese wisteria(wisteria floribunda macrobotrys), climber and not a shrub.


Honey scented and enormously vigorous once started, creating a total tangle unless the Gardner takes command. Also correct pruning is vital for proper flowering.


During the summer, regularly pinch out the growing tips of all laterals or young shoots when about 30cm (12in) long. Then in winter cut back all the side shoots to within two or three buds of the main stems, leaving only those shoots needed to extend the climber farther.


Given such treatment the wisteria should give an abundance of flowers the following year.


Professional Gardner.


Please feel free to email me for any more info/ advice on this.

Bleaching