Wisteria 101: How to prune, support and select wisteria for your garden

And 10 great spring ephemerals to plant

Hi, guys!

Since today’s Q&A is quite long and detailed, let’s jump right to it.

📬 Ask Jessica

Reader Carey Head’s long-neglected wisteria. (Carey Head)

DEAR JESSICA: Thank you for the potting mix recipe. I’m printing and posting in the greenhouse!

How can I improve the shape of a decades-old wisteria that has been mowed, lopped, starved from supplemental feeding and never intentionally shaped? In revenge, the plant is spectacularly loaded with blooms.

I’d love to get the vines off the ground and onto some type of support. But how?

There is a sprouting tree stump nearby. Would a very carefully applied dose of Tordon on the stump affect the adjacent roots of the wisteria?

As a side note, the new construction in the background is ours. This raises another question: Should I leave the wisteria alone until the house is done and landscaping is underway? — Carey Head, Ponca City, Oklahoma

DEAR CAREY: Do not use Tordon near any plants that you would like to keep. It’s a highly toxic herbicide that will be absorbed into the root system and the surrounding soil, where it will remain for quite some time and will likely kill nearby plants. It is not intended for use around any desired vegetation.

Instead, I would cover the stump with a tarp, secure it to the ground with landscape nails (or bricks), and leave it in place for about a year. When you remove the tarp, the stump will be dead and deteriorating.

Regarding your construction, I’m not sure how it would affect your wisteria. I don’t see why pruning it before or after the work is completed would be more beneficial. Instead, let the seasons guide you.

Pruning your long-neglected wisteria can seem overwhelming, but it will feel more manageable if you take it one step at a time. Here’s how.