Taming very established Wisteria

Hi

Black Dragon is a cracker variety and that the biggest I have seen it not the best producer of flowers in colder districts ,,,,, as long as you dont cut into main (very thick branches and you make a ugly cut as I call it) you cant go wrong just start at one end and cut back to two buds from the main branches , as the others have said now is the time to prune ..... take out a quarter and see how it gets on tie in any new pieces ... lucky you

Spruce

 

One step at a time....you've got a beautiful variety of Wisteria, there, Phil. It looks a bit undisciplined at the moment, but nothing you can't put right! Firstly, as ARMANDII said, chop the rose. Take one or two of the oldest, woodiest stems down to 2' so it rejuvenates gradually.
Then, look closely at the wisteria 'trunks', decide on 4 thickest (maximum) to keep, and cut right out ALL BUT 4 of the rest. You can leave 4 medium-thick stems at staggered heights to provide flowers on the upright of the pergola. They just need tying to the upright with soft twine.
The aim is to trace your 4 thickest branches up and right along the pergola, spaced out evenly, to create a framework. This is where you'll need a stepladder and a few metres of either pre-cut lengths of soft twine or plastic-coated wire. If you want 'cross pieces' across the width of the pergola, too, then tie in the next-thickest stems coming off the 2 outside main trunks. Everything growing from that framework (whichever version you choose) will be chopped to within a few inches (2 buds). In following years, all you have to do is keep chopping everything that grows from this franework back to within 2 buds. That'll form flowering spurs.
The danger with Loofah's approach (tempting though it may be ) is that you'd cut through stems that you'll need to form the framework!

 

This is 'Black Dragon'....trained as an umbrella 'cos I'm not allowed plants on the walls of the house

 

Thanks @Spruce Nice to know the type we have growing is a good one.

@noisette47 I thought I understood how I should start cutting before I read your post. I definitely don't want to get it wrong and take away too much and damange the Wisteria. So if I understand you correctly - I should remove all but the 4 thickest trunks from the base section (along with all of the whippy stems at this level?)

FYI - I'm in no immediate rush, so may wait for the weather to warm up a little before tackling this in a few days.

Sketch showing roughly what I think you mean? - Red indicates removed branches.

 

That's what I was afraid of without a diagram ... But yes, don't worry about being savage...you won't kill it, promise, but you will create the basis for an easily-maintained plant that will look good (architectural) even in winter.
The idea is to keep 4 thick, older stems veering off to the right, over the pergola. They can be tied in neatly in 4 parallel lines.
If you do want flowers lower down, on the pergola upright, just keep a couple more of the thickest stems and chop them at, say, 2' and 3' high, then tie them to the upright.
The hardest part with getting an unruly Wisteria into shape is tracing the longest, strongest branches to their ends.

 

Must admit, a hedge trimmer came to my mind also. The beauty of witeria is the cascading panicles of flowers. IMO to have layers of the plant and it's flowers, forming a roof seems such a waste.

I'd love to grow wisteria in my garden. Alas no space and even to train one against the wall of the house is out of the question.
There's no doubt about it, this specimen has been sadly neglected. I can well understand perhaps the eagerness to see it in flower. Just me. I'd be inclined to devote many hours to this plant. I'd for the time being, forget the flowers and also the advised time for pruning. Firstly I would cut back all that top roof-like growth. This will reveal the structure. I would then consider the older wood. Some I would leave as it forms the main skeleton. Probably I would cut out much of the older wood. Then turning my attention to the masses of tangled growth wrapped around the supporting timbers of the pergola. Probably many of these leaders actually go nowhere. Possibly the congestion and the lack of useful, beneficial sunlight, many may well be dead anyway.

To do the job properly. Don't expect to have it completed whilst waiting for dinner to cook. Try and be patient and you will be rewarded for all your hard work.

 

Thanks @noisette47 and @Mike Allen

I certainly don't intend to rush anything in the garden. I'd much rather take my time, learn and do things properly. It's also a little too cold for gardening at the moment (It was -4 in the garden this morning) - conditions after the weekend are looking much warmer.

I've watched a few more Wisteria YouTube videos and the above advice is all making sense. As a complete novice gardener, the idea of cutting back any plant in such a drastic fashion seems counter intuitive, but I now understand why. While we'd love to have it fully bloom in the spring, it feels right to get the structure / skeleton good now, so it will become an excellent flowering Wisteria in years to come. (Any flowering that does occur will be gratefully fortuitous).

This is a photo the estate agent took in late August.

 

I am going to agree use a hedge trimmer for the top and then prune with secateurs to tidy it up . Wisteria are tough and will take drastic pruning and it does need thinning , I wouldn't be set on amount of stems just go by what works and one which can be moved without pulling the pergola over, the red lines look about right.

I have a soft spot for Black dragon it must be some site when its all in bloom , frost get my wisteria most years unfortunately

 

If you use a hedge trimmer on your own, Perki, it's probably just as well! As I wrote above, it's more than likely that Phil would accidentally slice through the very stems he needs to keep.

 

Considering the only gardening hand tools I currently have are some secateurs, loppers and a trowel, I'm definitely going in for a methodical approach. Also on the immediate garden shopping list is a rake, fork, spade and the long branch cutting device @ARMANDII recommended…

 

You could add a decent pair of leather pruning gloves, Phil! If you're going to be tackling roses, they'll be worth their weight in gold