Richard wrote in message ...
I have acquired a white wisteria which has been allowed to overgrow for
several years. Does anyone have a good method of pruning?I have been told
that twice a year, serious pruning in December and March is good but which
bits should one cut back. I have made a start on the thin suckers growing
from the main stem and the tangles.


I presume you already have a framework of sturdy wires on whatever it's
growing on to be able to tie it to.
Your first job is to prune to produce a framework for the future over or
across whatever the plant is growing. Choose the strongest shoots and use
these, tying them into your wires or whatever. Mind you, don't tie them too
tight as they will get thick as time passes and you don't want them being
cut by the tie. Then cut all side shoots off these back to two buds to
encourage flowering buds to form.

I prune in December, just after leaf fall, (but I'm in a mild part of the UK
leave it later if you aren't) and again at various times during the growing
season to keep the new shoots within bounds.

Once you have your framework...
Keep the trunk clear of new growth, cut all shoots off as soon as they
appear.
As for your framework, as the new shoots appear during the summer cut them
back to 3 or 4 buds (leaves) to keep the plant tidy.
When the leaves are off, firstly tidy up the plant cutting out any dead or
badly placed bits. Then cut all that seasons side growths back to two buds
to form flowering spurs which look not unlike Stags antlers after a few
years.

--
Regards
Bob

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