Senior gardener Noah Mabey, who works at Thornbridge Hall, a Grade II listed stately home in the Peak District, has shared his essential July pruning checklist. With a heatwave expected this week, he advises households to prune six specific plants to keep their gardens in top condition.
Roses: Deadhead to Five Leaves
Noah recommends diligent deadheading for roses. "When a rose flower fades, don't just snip the head off, cut the spent stem back to a healthy set of five leaves. This tricks the plant into pushing out another flush of gorgeous blooms," he said.
Wisteria: Summer Prune for Better Blooms
July is the perfect time for a summer wisteria prune. "By now, it has likely sent out long, grabby, whippy green vines. Cut these unruly shoots back to about five buds to control the shape and encourage better flowering next year," advised Noah.
Herbaceous Perennials: Cut Back for Second Flowers
If hardy geraniums (cranesbill) or other early-summer perennials have finished their first round of flowering, Noah suggests a hard chop. "Cutting them back hard now will encourage a fresh foliage and a second wave of flowers," he said.
Sweet Peas: Pick More to Grow More
"The secret to sweet peas is simple: the more you pick, the more they grow! Keep harvesting the flowers for your indoor vases and snip off any spent heads before they go to seed to keep the blooms coming," Noah shared.
Topiary: Neaten Silhouettes
"Give your box hedges, bays, or yew topiary a neat summer haircut now to sharpen up their silhouettes for the rest of the season," he advised.
Fruit Trees: Thin Clusters for Bigger Fruit
For apples and pears, Noah recommends thinning fruit clusters. "If you see large, congested clusters of fruit, thin them down to just two or three healthy fruits per cluster. This ensures the tree channels its energy into growing larger, healthier fruit rather than a crowd of tiny ones," said Noah.
