Pruning is a year-round activity that helps our gardens flourish and encourages new growth. It’s a wonderful feeling when we see our plants thriving!
When to prune depends on what needs pruning. August is a great month for pruning plants like lavender and roses, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Wisteria
Wisteria needs regular pruning to keep its vigorous growth and overall size under control, but pruning will also help to improve its flowering.
The experts said: “Wisterias can be left to ramble unchecked where space allows, but will usually flower more freely and regularly if pruned twice a year.
“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.”
Cut back the whippy green shoots of the current year’s growth to five or six leaves.
This helps to control its size as well as “encourages it to form flower buds” rather than green growth.
Lavenders
According to Micheal, who goes by @themediterraneangardener on TikTok, August is the time to prune lavender.
It’s important not to cut down into old wood when pruning lavenders as this area may not regrow.
In a pruning video, the gardener said: “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.
“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
If left unpruned, rambling roses can become tangled and unsightly, so it’s important to give them a good trim now.
The RHS said: “Ramblers are routinely pruned in late summer, after their show of flowers and hips.
“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.”
It is also important to keep plants hydrated, especially when the weather is warm and there isn’t much shade.
The RHS added: “Thoroughly soak drought-stressed plants and shrubs, especially newly planted ones. Use grey, recycled or stored rainwater wherever possible.
“Keep early-flowering shrubs such as camellia and rhododendron well watered during dry periods to ensure good flower bud initiation.”
