Re: Wisteria pruning - mastered

tnottle@picknowl.com.au wrote:
> 
> Dear all Medit-planters,
> 
> Yes, wisterias can be a real problem for gardeners unless you don't mind them completely taking over - the pergola, then the verandah, then the eaves, next the gables and finally the whole house. I've even seen them pushing through the gap between the floorboards and the architrave, and snaking through air vents in walls.

Hi
I have only a couple of small points to add to this masterly account. 

The first is that, at least in NZ, there is a borer which attacks some
vines and can cause much of even an old established vine to collapse,
like the one which my daughter inherited in her garden. I really don't
know any way to combat this beyond scrupulously removing every infested
shoot. New growth is not attacked until at least its second season or
whenever it reaches a sufficient diameter to house the grub.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any information about the
lifestyle of the creature, but possibly spraying the surface of the
already woody growths with insecticide in spring and early summer might
help discourage reestablishment. In fact the cutting-out technique on
its own may be sufficient in most cases, as Katie has found.

The other point is that establishing a standard is accomplished in the
same way as for most plants which are not grafted or budded. One trains
up a single strong growth, supporting it with a stake to keep it upright
and nipping any sidegrowths to a pair of leaves only. (These to be
subsequently pruned away completely).
When the required height is reached the growing tip is nipped and side
shoots encouraged to form the head, being regularly pruned to promote
branching.
A fully-grown standard in bloom is a glorious sight with an even curtain
of flowers all round the head.

I have heard of just one variant of this method where not one but
several shoots were trained up together, being carefully wound round one
another. This not only encouraged the quicker formation of a
well-furnished head, but no doubt provided an interestingly-braided
support.

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
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