I have a variegated Solanum jasminoides growing through, or rather over a ceanothus. The ceanothus is currently being chopped down (sadly) as it has got far too big for the fence. This leaves me with rather alot of tangled solanum. It has been there a number of years, the stems at ground level are probably about 5-6cm diameter. Can they be cut back hard/semi-hard or will it kick its clogs if I do ?
I wouldn't prune it now, as it may be too much of a shock to it, and it won't have started into growth yet - wait a month or so, and have a look for any new shoots coming from low down on the stems, and prune to just above those. If there are many stems, you may want to leave one or two, just to be on the safe side.
Jenny, thanks for your reply (sorry to have taken a while to respond). You've confirmed what I thought was the case. I was hoping someone might say they had chopped one right back & it grew back very vigorously ::)
I can't really comment on pruning.. Ours grows like a monster and every now bits break off and I don't worry too much about it. I'd leave pruning til most of the hard frosts are gone, though I'm not sure how severe a pruning it can take..
Melanie