With August now here, gardeners are being encouraged to head outside this Saturday for a simple task that could make all the difference to their fruit harvest. Experts say spending just a few minutes on grape vines now can help the fruit ripen before cooler weather arrives.
According to Craig Wilson, co-founder, director and in-house gardening expert at Gardeners Dream, gardeners should cut back any leaves that are shading grape bunches.
He said: “You might find that the leaves on your grape vines are covering the fruit. If this is the case, cut them back to allow the sunlight to reach and ripen the fruit.”
The advice is backed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which says removing leaves around ripening grape bunches improves air circulation and allows more sunlight to reach the fruit.
The charity explains that better exposure helps grapes ripen more effectively while also reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
Pruning too heavily, however, can do more harm than good.
According to the RHS, gardeners should remove only the leaves directly shading the bunches, leaving enough foliage behind for the plant to continue producing energy through photosynthesis.
While grape vines should be the priority this weekend, there are several other fruit and vegetable jobs worth tackling before summer comes to an end.
Craig Wilson also recommends cutting back herbs to encourage a fresh flush of leaves that can be harvested before colder weather arrives, adding that surplus herbs can be dried or frozen for later use.
Berry growers should also keep a close eye on ripening fruit over the coming weeks. Wilson advises covering berry bushes with netting to protect crops from hungry birds before they are fully ripe.
Anyone growing raspberries should also reach for the secateurs once harvesting has finished. Wilson says fruited raspberry canes should be cut back for neatness, while newer green canes should be left in place as they will produce next year’s crop.
Elsewhere in the garden, late summer is also an ideal time to prepare flowers and lawns for the changing seasons. Wilson recommends pruning lavender after flowering, deadheading annual bedding plants to encourage more blooms, watering rhododendrons thoroughly to support next year’s buds, and raising the blade height on lawn mowers as grass growth begins to slow.
The Royal Horticultural Society says late summer maintenance helps keep gardens healthy ahead of autumn, with timely pruning, watering and harvesting all contributing to stronger growth in the months ahead.
Spending a little time in the garden this weekend could therefore help improve both this year’s harvest and next season’s display.
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