In January-February, cut back Wisteria side shoots back even further - 6-10cm long, leaving only 2 or 3 buds on the side-shoot. These will be the flowering spurs on your wisteria. There is no need to prune the wisteria to an outward facing bud.
These pruning operations should be carried out each year. The only shoots to be left 'unscathed' are those which are required to extend the size or direction of your wisteria.
Any lateral training of the new lateral framework needs to be done at
this time unless it was completed with the autumn trimming session
How to prune wisteria side shoots to encourage flowering instead of new stem shoots.
A wisteria side shoot - lateral, ready to be cut back hard in late winter pruning (Jan/Feb).
The lateral - having been cut back to 3 buds from the main branch leader. The pruning cut is immediately above a bud.
This will
allow the flower buds - which are on the older wood nearer the main stem - to receive the food reserves which are surging up through the vine at this time. If these shoots are left un-pruned, as well as developing into an untidy mess, the 'goodness' will be allowed to creep up through the shoot and give even more growth, both hiding the flowers, and depriving the flower buds of the wisteria the food reserves.
A great specimen of wisteria, that has been pruned correctly. learn about the general care of
Wisterias here.
Regular Pruning of this wisteria is essential, for whilst it has the space to roam unhindered, the pathway below would soon be rendered unusable as the wisteria would soon take over the whole arch.