Cut back wisteria

Wisteria vines put on a lot of growth over summer, often producing a wild ramble of long, whippy stems that run across the roof and get into guttering. Most of these will never flower, so it’s a good idea to cut them back and limit their spread.

Before you start, take a good look at the plant’s support structure. Most pergolas and trellises are made of wood, which can rot, so inspect these first to ensure they’re still in a suitable condition to support the vine – and will support you if you put any weight on them when pruning.

If you’re going up a ladder, have someone on the ground to check the ladder is secure, pass you tools as you need them, and to keep the surrounding ground clear and safe. Don’t stand on the top two rungs of a ladder, as it’s easy to lose your balance, and never stand on a pergola to prune – always work from below.

Work over the vine and cut back the current season’s growth to about five or six buds. Don’t be too fussy. It’s just a tidy-up at this stage to shorten wayward stems. Winter is when you can do some more detailed pruning, cutting the dormant leafless stems back further to two or three plump buds (these are where the spring flowers will form).

Remove any long shoots that are sprouting from the base of the vine, so that they don’t wander along the ground, where they’ll drop roots and create a menace. If there are areas on the support you need to cover or rejuvenate, save a few lower shoots and then guide them and tie them into position.