August is an excellent time to prune rambling roses, wisteria, honeysuckle, hardy geraniums, catmint, summer-flowering spirea, escallonia, and tired perennials. A light, timely trim improves shape, encourages repeat bloom where possible, and prevents energetic plants from treating your back yard as a personal expansion project.
The aim is not to go berserk with the pruners. In the heat of late summer, clean, selective cuts are far more useful than heroic hacking, particularly in temperate zones where plants need time to recover before fall.
