Expert warns gardeners to prune these plants in August – or risk limiting their growth next year
An expert has revealed plants that gardeners should prune in August – warning that if it is left too late, growth may be limited the following year.
Richard Barker, a garden expert and commercial director at LBS Horticulture, told Country Living that there are five plants people should pay specific attention to this month.
Pruning involves cutting dead and wilting branches, leaves, and blooms off plants and trees.
August is a key month for summer pruning. Action now will not only stimulate future flowers but help certain plants to develop long-term fruiting spurs.
Fruit trees, if regularly pruned, are more productive, with better quality fruits. Roses left untouched, flower poorly and are more disease-prone.
Undisciplined climbers can pull buildings apart, and fine hedges need regular, precision clipping.
Wisterias, even barren ones, can be kicked into flowering by corrective pruning.
Lavender
It’s essential to do certain gardening jobs at specific times of year, according to an expert (not pictured) who revealed which plants need pruning in August (stock image)
Lavender is surprisingly low maintenance: however, when it comes to pruning, timing is key.
If left untouched, the plant can become woody, according to Richard, which can result in fewer flowers.
Richard said: ‘It will need to be pruned in late summer after flowering has finished to keep the plant compact.’
Wisteria
Wisteria should be pruned twice a year, according to Richard – once in August (or July) and once in January or February.
Any long green stems should be cut back to about 30cm during the summer prune. The plant can flower more regularly when it is properly maintained.
It’s worth noting that wisteria can climb right up to the top of houses and into gutters, so a ladder may be needed to reach it. Always take safety precautions.
Apple and pear trees
Richard Barker, a garden expert and commercial director at LBS Horticulture, said apple and pear trees should be pruned in August (stock image)
Apple and pear trees that are grown in restricted form require pruning this month, according to the expert.
New shoots, which have grown this summer from the main branches, will be pretty obvious. They usually point upwards and will be turning from soft to woody.
Richard said that ‘when the bottom third of [a tree’s] new shoots are stiff and woody, with pears ready before apples’ is when the job should be done.
The new shoots should be cut back by locating a leaf cluster close to the main branch with more leaves at intervals along the new shoot.
Count two or three leaves above that basal cluster, and cut there, to leave a short stump.
Hydrangea
Climbing hydrangeas should be pruned in summer, according to Richard, who noted that the task should be done after the plant has finished flowering.
Doing this will ensure it has had sufficient time to develop flowering wood for next year.
Roses
Gardeners should prune rambling roses in the summer, after they have produced flowers and hips, according to Richard.
However, this job can also be done at any time until late autumn or winter.
When pruning roses, care should be taken not to make cuts of more than 5mm above a bud, and any cuts made should be at an angle.
This helps to stop water collecting, which can cause disease on the roses if it pools in excess.
Gardeners also need to prune back any dead and diseased stems as well as crossing stems for the perfect summer rose.
