How to Grow Wisteria on a Trellis

Prepare the soil at the base of the trellis before planting the wisteria vine. Work a 6-inch-thick layer of compost into the bed to a depth of 10 inches using a handheld cultivating fork.

Plant the wisteria vine four inches from the base of the trellis. Orient the rootball so the base of the wisteria's trunk is 1/2 inch above the surface of the soil to keep the graft joint from rotting.

Water the wisteria to a depth of one inch once a week. Let the vine become established for three weeks before pruning or training it against the trellis.

Prune off all the side shoots from the wisteria so only a single, thick vine remains. Pull the remaining vine upright so it rests vertically against the trellis. Tie it loosely to the trellis using twine.

Drape the side shoots along the trellis as they emerge during the summer months. Tie the side shoots to the trellis with twine. Prune off excessively long shoots emerging from the front-facing side of the wisteria to keep it tidy.

Prune back each branch by half in late summer, approximately six weeks before the first frost in autumn. Remove any green, unhardened vines since flowers are produced only on older wood.

Perform maintenance pruning in early spring. Trim back any tangled or knotted growth to give the plant a cleaner appearance. Leave at least three large growth buds on each vine to ensure the plant will put on normal growth during the following growing season.