Advice about Wisteria

Manxman_in_exile

Hi all


First time poster on this board. Please understand from the outset that I know nothing about gardening!


To cut a long story short, yesterday I had to lop some branches off a Wisteria bush(?) in order to gain access to something at the front of our house. The largest branch I had to cut was about an inch in diameter together with a handful of smaller diameter ones.


My question is - do I need to apply anything to the bare wood of the cut branch to "protect" it? I seem to remember from the dim distant past reading/seeing/hearing advice something like this when pruning.


Is there anything I should do? I may not know anything about gardening but I do like the Wisteria.


Thanks

DaftyDuck

Simply put - no.

In olden days saw cuts were treated, especially in fruit trees, more so in plums and other stone fruit.

The advice has changed to not treating cuts, unless there are very specific circumstances.

There's nothing you should do - except stop worrying!

Manxman_in_exile

Cheers!


We've lived here for some years and I must say that the wisteria seems to be pretty impregnable to any damage. If anything, it needs to be curtailed...

DaftyDuck

"Proper" pruning of wisteria is quite complex, with two prunes a year, to specific sites and lengths. It does help increase flowering, and can help shape the plant. In my experience, a good hack n slash also does wonders!

Sicard

When pruning it's a good idea to make the cut at an angle so when it rains water doesn't settle on the cut.

Manxman_in_exile

DaftyDuck wrote: »

"Proper" pruning of wisteria is quite complex, with two prunes a year, to specific sites and lengths. It does help increase flowering, and can help shape the plant. In my experience, a good hack n slash also does wonders!

Thanks. That makes me feel happier.


There's a nearby church that has (to my eyes) an immaculately shaped wisteria. I think I'll find out who does that and ask for advice.

Manxman_in_exile

Sicard wrote: »

When pruning it's a good idea to make the cut at an angle so when it rains water doesn't settle on the cut.

Yes - that's the sort of thing I was concerned about so I did leave an angle.