King Charles's Former Gardener Issues Urgent Winter Pruning Advice
Jack Stooks, who served as senior gardener at Highgrove for 21 years, is urging gardeners across the UK to complete a crucial pruning task today. This call to action comes ahead of anticipated snow and rain that could batter the country later this week, potentially causing significant damage to unprotected plants.
Essential Protection Against Incoming Weather
Speaking on behalf of Savoo, Stooks emphasised that now is the perfect time for pruning to safeguard gardens. He explained that plants blanketed in snow are particularly vulnerable to damage, with branches at risk of snapping under the weight. "It's also a good time to get things pruned back if you haven't already," Stooks advised. "Make sure that any spindly growth or anything that might affect the plant if it gets covered in snow is addressed. For example, if certain plants get covered in snow, it might damage them by snapping certain branches off. So make sure you get some shrubs pruned and re-tied before any more snow hits."
However, Stooks issued an important caveat: "You don't want to be cutting back any spring flowering plants, such as forsythia. Make sure you leave these alone, otherwise they won't flower." This distinction ensures gardeners protect their plants without compromising future blooms.
Expertise from Royal Gardens
Jack Stooks brings considerable authority to his recommendations, having spent over two decades maintaining the gardens at Highgrove, the private residence of King Charles III. Since leaving that role, he has dedicated himself to sharing his extensive horticultural knowledge with gardeners nationwide, helping them maintain their cherished outdoor spaces through challenging conditions.
This isn't the first time Stooks has shared valuable gardening wisdom. Previously, he suggested an unconventional method for enhancing hydrangea colour, telling The Mirror: "Coffee is great for acid-loving plants, such as hydrangeas. If you want a really blue hydrangea in your garden, feed them coffee grounds in the autumn. The coffee will be used as nourishment within the pots."
Weather Warnings Across Multiple Regions
The pruning advice comes as Britain braces for another bout of wet, miserable conditions following an already soggy winter. The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings covering extensive areas, including the South West and South East of England, Central and Eastern Wales, and parts of Western England.
In a detailed statement, Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates provided specific predictions: "On Wednesday, weather fronts are expected to move in from the Atlantic into some western, southern, and central areas of the UK. As they bump into the cold air already in place, we are likely to see some snow developing, although there is still some uncertainty around the details."
Keates continued: "Across southern England, rain will be the main focus, with 10 to 20 mm falling quite widely on Wednesday and into early Thursday. Some spots, such as Dartmoor, could see double that amount. Strong east to northeast winds will accompany the wet weather. Temperatures will be around 3 to 5°C for much of the UK on Wednesday, away from the far Southwest."
This combination of precipitation and wind makes Stooks' pruning recommendations particularly timely, as proper garden preparation can significantly reduce weather-related damage during these challenging winter conditions.
