By Todfazer
Devon,
United Kingdom 
I have recently moved into a house with a rather unruly wisteria that flowers and greens up at the same time. I have had to regularly cut back the quick growing shoots that have formed over the summer. I have looked at winter pruning regimes but as (my wife tells me!) it has remained green and growing over the last 2-3 very mild southwest winters, all I seem to do is encorage more whippy growth! Is it possible to prune it hard whilst still in leaf and will it affect flower production? This years flowers were in honesty a bit sparse. Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks in advance.
5 Dec, 2011
Answers
Hi
all depends how old it is and not forgeting if it has been grafted and what varriety it is , loves full sun as well to ripen the wood to help it flower
Two prunes a year one in the summer count 6 leves from the main stem and snip and Now until January reduce to 2 or 3 buds from the main branch what Henry has given you should help
5 Dec, 2011
This may be a poor cultivar, so if the flower size doesn't improve with regular pruning there will be nothing that you can do.
6 Dec, 2011
Here is a good vidio that explains it better than anything I could tell you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngMaxw4a2ME
I find that people are confused when I tell them to cut back to six buds from the main stem in summer, as the buds are little fronds of leaves. If you are getting flowers, it sounds as if your problem is down to too much green growth so have a look and give your plant a chance as they are beautiful when looked after properly.
6 Dec, 2011
it mite just need to age a bit still perhaps as it sounds very livley .know disrespect honestly but you seldem here of a wisteria growing fast enough to be a nucence excuse my spelling . you must be doing something right . take care bye for now .
7 Dec, 2011
No but if you have too much greenery you sacrifice the flowers and it can look bushily untidy if you get my meaning LOL
7 Dec, 2011
ow i have to agree maggie x
8 Dec, 2011
Thank you to all that have responded. Maggy7, the video link you sent was excellent and explained a lot about the how and why :-) my only remaining problen is that due to 'warm-ish' winters my wisteria has not dropped all it's leaves for the last 3 winters (it's around 18yrs old) so i'm not sure wether to 'summer' prune now or wait until jan/feb and 'winter' prune! What do you all think?
8 Dec, 2011
early spring i think is best .
8 Dec, 2011
I would do it now, probably look better after a tidy up.
Gg
9 Dec, 2011
my reasens for early spring is any damage would soon be healed as it starts growing as aposed to sitting damaged all winter but i guess theres pros and cons to everything .
11 Dec, 2011
Nosey
No damage done this time of year with spring you have to take in to account that buds may start to swell earlier than you think , I have never had any damage that has effected the wisteria after pruning this time of year
Gg
11 Dec, 2011
theres 2 opertunities gnarly as you say now or febuary . i chose febuary myself .
11 Dec, 2011
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Here's a link to the RHS advice on pruning Wisterias. I hope it helps - it does mention sparsity of flowers!
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=242
5 Dec, 2011