How to Prune Five-Leaved Akebia

Prune new, young plants. The pruning will help the plant establish a strong, attractive framework and produce more flowers. Twining vines climb by encircling upright supports, such as wires and trellises, but require training to follow the support. Use clean, sharp hand-pruning shears to cut precisely and smoothly. First, remove any damaged or diseased stems and those that look like that are crossing or twining around each other. Spread the stems of the plant apart at the base of a structure, such as a trellis, and, using short pieces of string or torn, clean old rags, secure the stems to the lower portion of the support until they become thick and woody.

Develop a plan for pruning older vines to make only the necessary cuts. Five-leaf akebia flowers on old wood -- buds develop before winter on the previous season's wood -- so prune in spring after flowering. Think about what you want to accomplish by pruning. Pruning a vine is typically done to remove dead and diseased wood, reduce its size, keep it on the support and also promote branching, the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service notes.

Remove dead, damaged and and diseased stems. Clean the pruning shears by placing the blades in rubbing alcohol after cutting diseased stems to prevent disease spread. Cut off the top one-third of overgrown or elongated stems. Also cut off old stems declining in vigor by more than 1/3, if need be, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service advises.

Remove tangled stems and those growing in the wrong direction, such as too far beyond the support, or growing toward doors, windows or other needed structures. Always cut back to healthy wood, to a lateral shoot or bud that is pointing in the direction you want the vine to grow. Keep as many horizontal shoots as possible, because they produce more flowers than vertical ones.

Encourage growth on the lower portion of the vine by pruning back to new, low-growing foliage, the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service recommends. Twining vines, such as chocolate vine, tend to grow from upper buds and to lose their lower leaves. This pruning encourages new, low-growing foliage.

Take a last look at the vine from a few feet away to ensure you didn't miss any areas requiring pruning.