Jack Stooks, who worked at Highgrove for 21 years, has shared essential winter pruning tips to protect gardens before snow and rain hit the UK this week
King Charles III’s former gardener has issued some advice(Image: PAUL ELLIS, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
King Charles III’s former gardener has urged everyone to prune their plants today (February 17) ahead of snow and rain expected to batter the UK later this week.
Jack Stooks, who spent 21 years as senior gardener at Highgrove, now shares his expertise with gardeners across the country on maintaining their cherished outdoor spaces.
One task he has flagged as essential is pruning. Speaking on behalf of Savoo, he said now is the perfect moment to get stuck in, reports the Express.
As for the reasoning, he pointed out that plants blanketed in snow could suffer damage, meaning pruning could offer vital protection. Jack explained: “It’s also a good time to get things pruned back if you haven’t already.
“Make sure that any spindly growth or anything that might affect the plant if it gets covered in snow (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.”
“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.”
The expert recommended pruning (stock)(Image: Capelle.r via Getty Images)
This isn’t the first occasion Jack has shared his gardening wisdom. Previously, he suggested sprinkling coffee on hydrangeas to enhance their colour. Speaking to 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.”
Jack’s caution comes as Britain braces for another bout of wet, miserable conditions following an already soggy winter.
The Met Office has issued multiple weather warningscovering the South West and South East of England, along with Central and Eastern Wales, and parts of Western England.
The UK is set to be hit by yet more wet weather later this week(Image: Getty)
In a statement, Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates said: “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.
“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.”
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