I’ve pruned a lot of plants in my time as a gardener. Some I had to tackle from atop a wobbly ladder, and at least once I had to take shears with me in a cherry picker, to confront a rather unmanageable wisteria. Through all of these experiences, one thing I have come to understand is that timing is crucial.
July pruning really matters. But, importantly, this month is not the time for a full garden chop-back (that’s for the dormant season during winter or early spring before everything kicks off), but, instead, this is the time for a quieter trim. A summer tidy, if you like. This is the moment for taming wayward stems, encouraging a second flush, and giving your plants a summer haircut.
