How to Trim Back a Sweet Pea Vine

Sweet peas grow as an annual flowering vine. This nonedible relative of the garden pea produces fragrant flowers primarily in early summer, but some varieties may continue to flower up until the first fall frost. The vines climb up trellises, fences and other support systems. They require minimal pruning and look best when allowed to grow wild over their support, although some light cutting helps keep the vines in bounds and encourages more flowering later in the season.

Shears

Instructions

- 1
  Pinch back the top of the main stem to the topmost bud after transplanting the sweet peas into the garden. Cuting back the growing tip in this manner encourages the plant to produce more lateral vines, which results in more flower buds and a fuller vine.
- 2
  Cut back the top of the vine once the sweet pea reaches the desired height. Make the cut within a quarter-inch of a leaf or bud. The vine branches at the cutting point and puts on lateral growth instead of continued upward growth.
- 3
  Trim back the wilted flowers after each flush of blooming. Cutting back the spent flowers prevents seed formation. Sweet peas that don't successfully set seeds are more likely to bloom a second or third time.

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