A gardening expert has issued a warning that certain plants must be pruned by the end of August to avoid serious damage. Dani Turner, customer experience director at Bunches, said: 'It can be just as important to prune certain plants in summer as it is in winter, as summer pruning can encourage future flowering and bigger crops from fruit trees and bushes, as well as control growth.'
According to Turner, August is the best month for pruning because most plants have finished flowering and their growth begins to slow. She advises that wisteria and climbing plants such as pyracantha must be pruned with secateurs, cutting back new shoots in crowded areas. Brits are told to leave five or six shoots and snip just before the leaf.
Herbs and lavenders should also receive a light trim after flowering, which typically occurs towards the end of August. Turner recommends removing shoots and withered stalks to within one inch of the previous year's growth, but warns against cutting into the woody stems. Without regular pruning, lavender can become bushy and leggy.
However, the expert cautions that pruning at the wrong time can have 'detrimental' effects. Summer bloomers like hydrangeas and begonias should not be pruned in August while they are still flowering. Instead, wait until late winter or spring. Additionally, pruning during a heatwave should be avoided as it signals the plant to grow, using water and energy that need to be preserved in hot temperatures.
