Two simple jobs can 'encourage' wisteria flowers to bloom all summer long
Wisteria is a plant which needs regular care if you want it to bloom for as long as possible.
Spring is here and the beautiful lilac wisteria flowers are in full bloom. Wisteria typically flowers between April and June, with some lucky gardeners occasionally experiencing a second flush in August meaning you could enjoy flowers all summer long.
However, the length of time your plant flowers will largely depend on how you care for it.
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Wisteria is a hungry plant which also requires regular pruning, and keeping on top of these jobs is essential for maximum blooms.
Experts from Gardeners World explained: "Wisteria is a hungry plant. Feed monthly with a high potash fertiliser during the growing season, to encourage more flowers to bloom."
If you are growing wisteria in a pot, it is essential to water and feed your plant on a weekly basis. During the autumn months, the experts advise mulching with organic matter such as homemade compost or well-rotted horse manure.
Pruning your wisteria plant is also essential for healthy, blooming flowers. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends removing growth in summer to allow better air circulation and more sunlight to reach the base of young growths.
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This will encourage better ripening of the wood and improve the chances of bud formation.
"Restricting the amount of vegetative growth and encouraging short, flowering spurs will result in more flowers," explained the RHS.
You should prune wisteria throughout the year, however in the coming months it's worth pruning your wisteria after flowering.
"In July or August, cut back the whippy green shoots of the current year’s growth to five or six leaves," said the RHS.
"This controls the size of the wisteria, preventing it from getting into guttering and windows, and encourages it to form flower buds rather than green growth."
Looking ahead to the future, it's worth getting outside during the winter months when the plant is dormant and leafless to cut back the shoots you pruned in the summer.
The best flowering wisteria are those which have been tidied up before the arrival of the peak spring and summer growing season.
This will also ensure your flowers are not hidden behind excessive foliage and greenery.