Thank you so much Lynn. Mine must be about 50 yrs old and it was never pruned properly so I have lots of wood. I prune the new bits that grow but I’m still left with lots of huge branches in wood, not dead wood. I have to prop them up with long handled brushes. Do you think I could cut those? I’d be rather worried doing that. It always has great flowers. I shall definitely use the plant food you recommend, I’ve never heard of QVC. … my flowers in baskets are dismal. I too wish you could help me, I find it quite tricky as I have to climb a ladder which I don’t like doing. I am always worried with French ‘gardeners’ as they’re a bit gung ho when they see something to be pruned.
I wish I could see it! Where abouts in France are you? (A long shot I know). Regarding all the branches, follow the nice healthy greenery on its branches back to the main trunk to get a sense of what is growing where, do all these branches you have to prop up come from one thick trunk in the ground or are they growing up through the ground separately? That is your starting point - it is entirely possible to cut some branches out, look at your leaf coverage (declining by now I know) and decide what you couldn’t bear to lose and prune, you must have sharp secateurs or loppers if the branches are thicker than a finger and be careful to cut cleanly not tear into a branch, anything that is dark wood - almost black, that snaps like a twig cut it out/off completely. I will take a photo of mine as it is now, and take a photo of my pruned wisteria in January or February and email it to you if you like? You will be shocked at how hard it has been cut back. Basically you can remove as much as you like, but you must keep some branches with buds on growing in the direction you want to keep it. I don’t know the etiquette on here, can you provide email addresses? I am on Facebook if it’s not possible. QVC is a shopping channel of some 25 years in the UK, used to be naff but has really come on. Richard Jackson is a professional gardener from the Geoff Hamilton era, and his products are superb, I stock up when I visit the UK each year (via car) ordering it and getting it sent to my brothers before I arrive, but as I say it is on QVC.fr. Hope this helps?
Completely forgot, if you Google “how to prune a wisteria” you get lots of info up, but more importantly videos you can watch, they have all been posted on you tube but can be viewed via Google, one from RHS and several more, they should be very helpful to you.
Thanks Lynne, you seem very knowledgeable. I’ve looked at videos but they only show how to cut back the new growth, don’t show what to do with big wood branches. There is only one major trunk, I think you can see from the 2 photos I posted. The branches are about 1 inch in diameter. I live in Paris area. I looked you up in FB but don’t know which is you.
Hi, I have been gardening since 1990 and love it. Paris, crikey you are 6 hours north of me! On FB I am the one with a pink dress and the Doberman, do get in touch.
Hi Lynne… a photo of you with or without the doberman… would be friendlier that the large Y…
Apologies, will try load one , I am truly a dinosaur!
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Heh heh did it! Result! Thanks for bringing my attention to it. X
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Hi Lynne, I can’t find you on FB, no pink dress, dog or the photo you have here.
How do I do that Stella, I would love to as the thread greats really boring for others, I would love to send a private message. If you could talk me through it I would be grateful.
I’ve got it I think click on the photo and the envelope comes up. X
Ha ha… I was in the middle of typing that… you read my mind…
happy tapping…