How to Grow Hanging Purple Wisteria

Plant wisteria in spring or autumn. Although wisteria performs best in full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil, the plant tolerates partial shade and poor, dry soil.

Dig a hole for each wisteria plant, leaving 10 to 15 feet between each one. Place the reserved soil to the side of each hole.

Mix a trowel full of compost into each hole to improve the soil if the area doesn't drain well or if the soil is clay-based or sandy. If the soil is rich, no compost is required.

Place a wisteria plant in the hole and then backfill with half of the reserved soil.

Fill the hole with water. Let the water drain and then fill the hole to the top with soil. Water again.

Keep the soil moist until the plant is established and displaying healthy new growth. After that time, wisteria is drought-tolerant but benefits from 1 inch of water every week during hot, dry weather.

Fertilize wisteria in early spring, or after the first frost in early winter, using a high-phosphate fertilizer with a ratio such as 0-20-0.

Provide a sturdy support for wisteria to climb on, as mature vines are heavy. Use a structure such as a trellis, fence or arbor. You can also build a frame from wood and galvanized wire, and then attach the frame to a wall. Allow at least 6 inches spacing between the wall and the wire to protect the wall and to provide room for the wisteria to grow.

Prune wisteria once the plant is well established -- after about four to five years. Prune shoots that grow from the main vine after blooms fade in early to midsummer. Trim the shoots to a length of 6 inches. Cut the same shoots down to three or four buds in autumn.

Pull suckers immediately. If the suckers are too large to pull, cut them off at the ground with pruners. Suckers sap energy from the main wisteria vine. Trimming also keeps the plant neat and prevents the vine from growing out of control.

Spread 2 to 3 inches of a mixture of mulch and compost under the wisteria vine every spring. The mixture keeps the soil healthy, controls weeds and holds moisture in the soil.