In an ideal world, we’d all have an interior designer on hand to help us shop for beautiful new home decor each season. Lucky for us, we have the second-best scenario.
27.08.2024 - 16:29 / gardenersworld.com / Alan Titchmarsh
Pruning plants in summer is just as important for some plants as winter pruning. By pruning in summer, you can reap the rewards of better displays from ornamental plants. You’ll also encourage bigger crops from fruit trees and bushes. Removing new summer growth before it turns woody reduces growth-promoting nitrogen, allowing potassium to build up – and more potassium means more flowers and fruit. You’ll also keep plants, such as shrubs, climbers and rambling roses, within bounds and maintain an attractive shape.
Find out which plants you need to prune in summer, in the video with Alan Titchmarsh above, and below.
Spring-flowering shrubsShrubs that flower on stems formed in the previous year need to be pruned in summer, after flowering. They include:
Key tool: Loppers
How to do it: Remove any stems killed by frost to encourage strong new growth to grow from low down in the plant. It’s best to leave this until early summer when all risk of frost has passed. You could also use loppers.
Tender shrubsIncludes plants that can be damaged by late frosts, such as:
Key tool: Secateurs
How to do it: Prune after flowering to encourage strong new growth that will flower next year. Remove the oldest, woody stems right down to the base. You could also use secateurs, or a pruning saw for thick branches.
Fruit treesRemoving soft, new growth will promote fruit formation on:
Key tool: Secateurs
How to do it: prune out new excess growth. The aim is to create space that will allow more light and air in through the tree. This will help the fruit to ripen. You could also use loppers, a pruning saw
In an ideal world, we’d all have an interior designer on hand to help us shop for beautiful new home decor each season. Lucky for us, we have the second-best scenario.
From snug reading nooks to cute dining banquettes, there’s something satisfying about a cozy little corner. So, it’s no wonder that the concept is gaining traction on social media. Creators have been sharing their decked out “rest corners” on TikTok and Instagram as a spot to unwind, relax, and melt away the day.
Happy Friday GPODers!
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Summer pruning is an often overlooked task, but if anything, it’s just as important as chopping plants back when they are dormant in winter. Cutting back plants in summer has a host of benefits, not least in helping to restrict the size of your plants and stopping them outgrowing their allotted space. It can also promote future flowering and fruiting.