Simple Summer Pruning

After the youthful exuberance of spring, some plants may have started to extend beyond their allotted space in the garden. In their eagerness to grow, they can become untidy or tangled with crossing branches and dense, impenetrable foliage. Following winter, there may also be areas of dead or diseased wood that look unsightly and need to be removed.

Summer is the perfect time to prune away old or excessive growth, ensuring plants remain healthy, productive, and visually appealing for the rest of the year and beyond.

Here's a quick list of the main pruning tasks that can be done in between late June and mid-August to help you keep your garden under control. The best timing for all gardening work depends on the weather and your location. Don't feel obliged to do everything at once; pace yourself, as most pruning tasks can wait a week or two if necessary. Diving in and giving your garden the horticultural equivalent of a short back and sides may cause plants stress, leaving your garden looking scalped and static. Go gently, and all will be well.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, philadelphus, lilac and deutzia as soon as they have finished flowering. By removing about a third of the old stems at the base of the plant, you will improve the health and vigour of the shrub, encouraging strong new flowering shoots to sprout.
Trim vigorous climbers, such as honeysuckle, jasmine, and wisteria, to keep long, whippy stems under control. Count 3-4 leaves from the old growth and trim just above a leaf, leaving a short spur of new wood. If you have longer shoots that you want to keep to create a framework, tie them in with soft twine while they're still pliable.
If you have fruit trees, take long, lush growth back to 2-3 leaves, and this will encourage the tree to produce more flowers and fruit next year. There's definitely an art to pruning fruit trees - if in doubt, seek more detailed advice before brandishing your secateurs!
Trim hedges once the new stems start to toughen and the once-fresh foliage begins to take on a similar colour to the old. These are indicators that growth is slowing and maturing. Take care not to cut into old, bare wood unless you've checked that the plant will regrow successfully. Some shrubs, such as lavender, will suffer or even die if pruned too hard. Others, like yew, have an amazing ability to regenerate.
Reshape camellias and rhododendrons if they have become untidy. Take out any dead, diseased, crossing or straggling branches. Evergreens generally require minimal attention, so pruning should be done only by exception to maintain a pleasing shape.
Tidy up rambling roses by removing thin or tangled stems once they stop flowering. Then, remove about a third of the flowered stems and tie the remainder to strong supports. This can be fiddly and awkward work, and it's essential to protect your arms and face from flailing, thorny stems.

With just five essential pruning tools in your shed, you can tackle most year-round pruning tasks safely and with ease. Here are my suggestions:

1. A pair of snips for detailed work

Snips are suitable for cutting stems, twigs, and branches up to 0.5 cm in diameter. Use them for deadheading, pruning bonsai, detailed shaping, thinning grapes, trimming herbs and for cutting flowers with delicate stems.

2. Versatile secateurs for everyday use

Secateurs are one of the most useful tools you'll ever own. They're suitable for cutting stems, twigs, and branches 1-3 cm in diameter, depending on which type you choose. Use them for pruning roses, perennials, fruit trees, shrubs, climbers and for everyday deadheading. As a general rule, bypass secateurs are the best option for cutting green, living material. Anvil secateurs will make lighter work of stems and branches that are brown, including mature, dead, thick or hard wood.

3. Sharp shears for happy hedges and top topiary

Shears are suitable for cutting fine stems and shoots up to 0.25cm in diameter. Use them for trimming hedges, tidying shrubs, clipping box, lavender and topiary. They can even be used for cutting small areas of lawn, especially if it has been left to grow a little longer to encourage wildflowers.

4. Lengthy loppers for bigger branches

Loppers are suitable for cutting stems, twigs, and branches up to 2.5 cm in diameter. Use loppers for pruning trees and shrubs, for coppicing, pollarding and gentle reshaping of mature, woody plants.

5. A light saw for heavy pruning

A pruning saw is perfect for cutting stems, twigs and branches up to 10cm in diameter. Use it for removing dead wood, crossing branches and for major reshaping.

If used correctly and sharpened regularly, good tools will provide a lifetime of service; they could even become family heirlooms.

For my full range of personally recommended pruning tools, click here.