Professional "Pruner" required for a Wisteria

[peachybabe]

Does anyone know where I can find the name of a "proper" gardener to prune a well established Wisteria, i.e. someone who won't just hack away at it?
There are loads of gardening firms around but how can I be sure that they REALLY know what they are doing? I don't just want "Fred Bloggs, Gardening Services" to massacre it!

[jomifl]

Can you not do it yourself, they aren't fussy who does it, the only way to kill them seems to be to dig them up.

[jno]

I wish, jomifl... ours never died, it just refused to flower.

Do you subscribe to Which magazine? They have an online Which Local service for members. Or is there any neighbourhood association or blog where local people recommended workers they've used?

[squarebear]

You could hire a flamethrower? ;-)

[237SJ]

You could ask for a recommendation at the information desk in your local garden centre.

[peachybabe]

Thanks all! My Dad said to poison it!! But I actually quite like it, and it does flower beautifully! It's just that it's reaching the roof now, and I don't want it to get much higher. I have been tempted to do it myself, but didn't want to stop it from flowering.

From what you have all said though, I get the impression that it would take a lot more than my "hacking" skills to do any long term damage!!

Thanks again all!

P.s. I might just make enquiries at the garden centre.

[landscaper2]

We would trim back the new long extended growth mid summer to 4 or 5 buds, then as and when just to keep in hand. Then take them hard back to two buds in the winter. Hope that helps, Fred.