Question
Hi Tom, Two years ago I bought a small wisteria tree(about 2 ft tall) It's now about 3-3 1/2 ft tall, has leafed out nicely but the limbs are very short and stubby. About 2 weeks ago a vine started growing on the very top of the tree.Should I cut off the vine and why are the branches not growing?  nearly all the leaves are getting yellow spots with brown dots on them. What can I do?  The leaves are very thick, should I thin it out somehow to let it get air. I don't know what kind of wisteria it is and I am at a total loss of what to do.
Thanks, Lee

Answer
Hi Lee,
Thanx for your question.  The wisteria is really not a tree but is a woody vine.  Many times, the plant is trained into a tree-like structure.  To get the best out of your wisteria, keep it well controlled and and well trained, this means keeping the growth to one or two main leaders.  I would keep those other limbs cut like you have them now and then allow one or more leaders to grow but keep it neat too.  You now have one leader going out.  Manage its direction and growth.  If you want, allow another leader to grow with it next year.  The branches may be dead.  Are they leafless?  If after two years they are leafless, they are just wood now.  The lead now coming out is the new growing tip of your plant.

Here's a link to an interesting Wisteria page.

http://wandasworx.com/gardening/wisteria/

The malady you speak of (yellowing leaves) could be just a fungal infection which usually goes away on its own or it could be mosaic which is incurable.  It's kind of hard to say without seeing a picture of it.  You could take a sample in to your County Extension Agent and they could tell you.  If you'll give me a general location, I can get you contact information.  I hope this helps.
Tom