Pruning is done throughout the year to help the garden thrive and promote new growth. When to prune depends on what needs pruning, but August is a month when gardeners can prune plants such as lavender and roses
Pruning is also vital during the summer months(Image: Caiaimage/Chris Ryan via Getty Images)
Garden lovers, it’s time to grab your shears because pruning season is upon us. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), July and August is a great time for gardeners to prune various plants, including your beautiful lavenders and fragrant roses.
Wisteria
For those wanting a lush wisteria display, RHS experts recommend: “Wisterias can be left to ramble unchecked where space allows, but will usually flower more freely and regularly if pruned twice a year.”
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They further advise that summer pruning allows: “The removal of growth in summer allows better air circulation and more sunlight to reach the base of the young growths, encouraging better ripening of the wood and improving the chances of flower bud to formation.”
Don’t be afraid to trim wisteria, just cut back this year’s green shoots to five or six leaves to maintain size and “encourages it to form flower buds” instead of leafy sprigs.
Lavenders
When it comes to lavender, one thing to remember is to avoid old wood, reports the Express. In an instructional video, the gardener notes: “It’s going to continue to grow, it will put on probably another two inches or so worth of growth but that’s ok, we leave that.”
He explains the strategy behind this method: “That growth will protect over winter and then come next year this is in a good compact shape ready to put out some new flower buds for you to enjoy.”
Rambling roses
Lastly, for those charming rambling roses, RHS throws in their seasoned advice: “Ramblers are routinely pruned in late summer, after their show of flowers and hips.”
Gardeners are being urged to give their greenery a good chop and keep them well-watered to ensure they thrive, with the RHS advising: “When supports have been covered, thin and shorten excessive growth by removing one in three of the oldest stems entirely.
“If space is restricted, prune out all stems that have flowered and tie new ones in to take their place.”
The RHS also emphasised the importance of hydration, especially during warm weather with limited shade, stating: “Thoroughly soak drought-stressed plants and shrubs, especially newly planted ones. Use grey, recycled or stored rainwater wherever possible.”
For those early bloomers in your garden, the RHS has a tip: “Keep early-flowering shrubs such as camellia and rhododendron well watered during dry periods to ensure good flower bud initiation.”