Wisteria Cut Back Off the Roof
A wisteria had grown up over the roof and hidden the house — Richard got up there and cut it all back so the house could be seen again.
See the jobGuides · by Richard Cordrey, qualified carpenter
When should you cut back wisteria?
The short answer
Wisteria is pruned twice a year: in summer (July–August), cut the long whippy new shoots back to about five or six leaves; in winter (January–February), cut those same shoots back again to two or three buds. Anything growing over the roof, gutters or windows should be cut back and tied away whenever you spot it.
Step by step
- Summer prune — After flowering, cut the long green shoots back to five or six leaves from the main branches. This keeps it tidy and encourages flower buds.
- Winter prune — In late winter, shorten the same shoots to two or three buds. The fat buds are next spring’s flowers.
- Keep it off the roof — Wisteria will push under tiles and into gutters. Cut back anything heading over the eaves and tie main stems to supports.
- Tackle an overgrown wisteria in stages — A plant that has taken over can be cut back hard, but flowering may pause for a year or two.
When to call someone in
Once wisteria is up at roof height it is a ladder job and best left to someone insured for work at height. Richard cut one back off a house roof so the house could be seen again — see the photo below.
Questions people ask
Can wisteria damage a roof?
It can lift tiles and block gutters if it is left to grow over them, which is why it is worth keeping it below the eaves.
Do you offer regular garden maintenance?
Yes — regular visits or one-off jobs, across West Sussex and Surrey.
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