Hops !!

[chickens]

I have a hop plant and for the last two years have cut it right back,I want it to cover a large area and I have been told to leave it and not cut it back...... what should i do ?

[Thunderbird+]

I will assume its the more hardy common hop that you have (Humulus lupulus) 'aureus' is the golden form.
It will naturally die back in winter anyway, so you may as well prune it hard back, this will give it more vigour also.
The recomended pruning is to cut back all top growth to about 30cm (12") above the base in late autumn and then back to soil level in spring. Good Luck. Tbird+

[horty]

Just to back up what T.Bird has said, he is of course exactly right. H.