AusBonsai

G'day.
After doing some research and finding out that Wisteria's are kinda notorious for their roots doing damage to houses, I took an old wisteria out of my front garden earlier this year.
I thought I'd killed it off but it's started to bounce back and now I'm wondering if anyone has advice/suggestions on what I should do with this bad boy.

The trunk is quite huge and seems to be showing signs of damage, but it's a pretty gnarly tree and has an awesome root system which I was planning on showing off down the line - but for now, does anyone have advice on what I should do or ideas on where to go with this beast? I can see some new growth coming through at the base/on the trunk & it's making me think I should cut off the large straight branch once the new growth starts coming through

Cheers guys

G'day Hashy. If it were mine I would shorten the long straight branch by splitting and breaking it to leave a stub that resembles the top of the trunk in your third photo. I would do the same with those stubs low down on the trunk. And I would let the upright shoot grow until it is suitably thickened.

P.S. I had a wisteria but I got rid of it. I couldn't get enthusiastic about its prospects.

Hello Hashy,

If this tree was here, similar to Phil's advice I prefer clean cuts, but that's just me, completely removing all three lower stumps flush to the trunk and then cutting the main branch back just above the new shoot and training / thickening the new shoot to become your new leader. As I said - if it were mine.

Whatever you do, when you decide, post it up and continue the progression.

Have fun,

Kevin

Free plants are always good plants. Nice little base there to start from, I’ve found they will bud from old wood when cut back hard too so you shouldn’t be stuck with that straight branch if you don’t want it

I never got the hang of how to get them to flower reliably each year, and have now sold off all mine, but hopefully you can crack it

Just remember if you are considering splitting it. Wisteria has a soft wood and can rot quickly. I would give it straight cuts for this reason. To get them to flower feed, water, full sun. Lots of flower feed NOW as flowers require feed now if you want them to flower come spring.
Cheers
Kirky.

Just another word on the clean cut versus splitting and breaking options. Both options are sensible and viable. I like the split/break option, and then allowing the wound to rot, because it looks more natural. In the case of this tree, I favour that option because it already has a dead wood feature. But, as always, it's up to the individual bonsai artist.