Five plants that must be pruned now to guarantee ‘more blooms’ and ‘a burst of new growth’
September is a great time to get out in the garden and start pruning certain plants to keep them vigorous and flowering well. Here are the five plants this applies to this month.
Pruning is just one of the many gardening jobs to tackle in September to keep plants healthy and in bloom, as the seasons shift from summer to autumn.
Even if you’ve not ticked off your August pruning checklist, there’s still a chance to catch up on those gardening duties.
Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal and a seasoned green-fingered guru, has released a guide of five plants that are ripe for pruning this month along with top tips on how best to do it.
He unpacked the mystery of pruning: “Pruning can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Basic pruning shears for smaller branches and loppers for branches more than half an inch in diameter should do the trick.”
1. Fruit trees
If your fruit trees are beginning to look somewhat wilder than you might like, Bryan claims that the “secret” to managing them is quite simple - prune in “early September” before the frost makes an appearance.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
He instructed: “Remove any dead wood and thin out crowded branches to allow better air circulation and light penetration.”
2. Hydrangeas
Gardeners are often left scratching their heads when their hydrangeas don't bloom as expected.
The gardening expert has cautioned that when it comes to pruning hydrangeas, one must “be careful”.
Bryan advised: “Only prune the ones that bloom on new wood, like the panicle and smooth hydrangeas. Cut back the spent blooms and about one-third of the height.”
Don't miss...
Peace lilies will never stop flowering if kept in best place of your home [COMMENT]
Ditch vinegar and salt to kill gravel weeds for better tip - works in 30 seconds [TIPS]
Weeds will never appear again if you grow 3 plants expert claims 'smothers' them [INSIGHT]
3. Rose bushes
Roses remaining radiant requires timely trims, and according to our expert, now's the moment to make that cut.
Bryan explained: “September is a great time to give them a light pruning. Snip off any dead or faded blooms about a quarter-inch above a five-leaflet leaf.”
This sage snippet of advice is all about redirecting energy into fresh growth and setting up the shrub for the colder months ahead.
4. Summer-flowering shrubs
It's time to get snipping at those summer-flowering shrubs such as spirea this month. Pruning these beauties now means “more blooms next year”.
Once they've finished showing off their flowers, give them a good trim to “shape them up and encourage new and healthier growth”.
5. Perennial herbs
Now’s the moment for garden enthusiasts to start pruning perennial herbs like sage and rosemary to promote fresh sprouts.
Pruning these herbs early in autumn can "stimulate a burst of new growth" that will “last until the first frost”.
Bryan recommended: “Clip back about a third of the branches, but avoid cutting into the woody parts of the plant.”
