How to Maintain Root Shoots From a Wisteria

Wisteria finds favor with many gardeners due to its ability to quickly cover unsightly structures with masses of vibrant green foliage and fragrant, purple flower clusters. The vigorous nature of wisteria is also a source of aggravation for many gardeners, as the vines tend to sprout root shoots, or suckers, throughout the growing season. Maintaining root growth presents a challenge since the suckers continually regenerate, but you can suppress them for long periods of time using small doses of a commonly available chemical compound.

Pruning saw
0.8-percent NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) rooting hormone liquid
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Remove any existing root shoots from the wisteria before treating it with the suppressant chemical. Locate the base of each root sucker. Dig down 2 to 3 inches below the surface of the soil to expose a large portion of the root shoot. Sever it using a pruning saw. Discard the severed shoots.
- 2
  Apply a thick coat of 0.8-percent NAA rooting hormone liquid to the end and sides of the root shoot using a paint brush. Let the chemical dry for 15 minutes and then reapply it. Let the second coat dry thoroughly for approximately 30 minutes.
- 3
  Bury the tip of the root shoot with garden soil. The root shoot will not regenerate for five to six months once treated with the NAA rooting hormone.
- 4
  Apply a light coating of NAA rooting hormone liquid to the lower 1 to 2 feet of the wisteria's trunk using a paintbrush to suppress any side shoots. Avoid getting the hormone on the leaves of the wisteria.

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