The summer months are a great time to get ahead of your gardening before the autumn chill starts to hit. There are many plants that benefit from some late summer pruning and will thank you for it when the cooler months start to set in.
According to Home and Garden there are seven plants you likely have in your garden that need pruning now and the first is box hedging.
Box
Trimming topiary hedges now is recommended as it will help it to hold its shape through the winter.
If your plant is young, you may need to prune a little more to maintain the shape of the plant but for mature hedges, a gentle tidy should be enough to restore it to its full glory.
Do not prune your hedge after August until the late spring, as soft new growth can shoot up and be caught out by frosts.
Thyme
Thyme is a wonderful addition to any garden. It provides good ground cover, flowers attractively and of course, goes great in a roast dinner. However if left to its own devices for too long thyme can grow woody and sparse through the centre.
That’s why you need to check on your thyme and prune it this month to ensure it can continue to thrive.
Don’t prune too far down and avoid cutting it back during the heat of the day – early morning or evening is best as too much heat shock can kill the plant.
Hydrangea
Climbing hydrangeas are a striking plant which can look stunning in your garden – but they do require some annual care. Autumn is the best time to prune them. Make sure to trim back their flowers after they have finished blooming to encourage growth lower down the plant.
Bottlebrush
These attractive red flowering shrubs go well in pots and borders but they do need a little care. Pruning in August will keep your bottlebrush small and bushy and give plenty of energy for new flowers to grow.
Japanese holly
Gorgeous, low maintenance and making for amazing topiary, Japanese holly is another popular choice for UK gardens. However by August they might look a little wild, and could benefit from a quick trim. This will also keep them looking fresh and crisp. Always remember Japanese holly is considered toxic and can cause skin irritations to make sure to wear gloves while you prune.
Wisteria
With its pretty trailing flowers, wisteria is a popular flower for UK homes. It can grow up the sides of homes, over trellises and has a stunning romantic look. However it also needs regular care. Wisteria grows very fast and can become unruly quickly so August is a great time to take control of it.
Lavender
August is the perfect time to prune lavender to avoid those dreaded woody stems that can make your plant look bare and unattractive. Trimming will keep the plant compact, bushy and flowering, Just make sure to never cut into the woody stems.
