How to Dig Up a Wisteria

Manual removal of wisteria is more effective when the vine is immature.


Prized by many for their dramatic clusters of purple, white or pink flowers, Wisteria (Wisteria spp.) is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. This dramatic, fragrant woody vine is to others an invasive nightmare that has quickly overtaken their backyard, preventing any other plants or flowers from thriving. It’s possible to manually eliminate a smaller wisteria plant from your backyard before it becomes well-established. The process is extremely labor intensive, but recommended if you have any foliage adjacent to the vines you don’t want exposed to herbicides.


Wear work gloves and a long-sleeved shirt before attempting to cut back the wisteria, no matter what its size. Beginning at the distal branches, cut back the wisteria vines until you reach the stump. Pick up every branch and twig from the ground and throw it into a trash bag immediately to prevent future regrowth. Use pruning shears to remove thinner vines and a small hand saw for thicker branches near the base.


Use a spade or shovel to dig a large hole around the wisteria, completely uncovering the root ball and all lateral shoots.


Slide a shovel or spade under the root ball to lift it from the hole. If necessary, have someone help you lift the ball from the ground. Immediately place the ball into a garbage bag for disposal. Inspect the hole for any remaining branches and shoots, and dispose of these as well.


Backfill the hole with the surrounding soil and monitor the site for any new growth. If you notice any wisteria popping up, immediately remove them from the ground before they become established.

Things You Will Need

  • Work gloves
  • Long-sleeved shirt
  • Trash bag
  • Pruning shears
  • Hand saw
  • Spade
  • Shovel


  • Eliminating wisteria entirely is difficult to do manually. A well-established plant can possess an intricate, large root system that can in many instances be nearly impossible to completely eradicate.

Photo Credits

  • Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
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