English Living
Britain, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland
Homes, Interiors & More
Senior Gardener shares plants to prune in July
July gardening tips from Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor to Platinum Spas
Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor to Platinum Spas said,
“As we head into July, the garden is truly in full bloom. It has been an absolutely fantastic year for roses, and with a little bit of careful maintenance this month, we can keep the spectacular show going right through the summer."
If you're wondering what needs your shears and attention right now, here is Noah’s essential July checklist to keep your outdoor space looking its absolute best:
Roses: “Keep deadheading diligently. When a rose flower fades, don't just snip the head off, cut the spent stem back to a healthy set of five leaves. This tricks the plant into pushing out another flush of gorgeous blooms.”
Wisteria: “July is the perfect time for a summer wisteria prune. By now, it has likely sent out long, grabby, whippy green vines. Cut these unruly shoots back to about five buds to control the shape and encourage better flowering next year.”
Noah Mabey
Herbaceous Perennials: If hardy geraniums (cranesbill) or other early-summer perennials have finished their first round of flowering, don't be afraid to give them a chop. Cutting them back hard now will encourage a fresh foliage and a second wave of flowers.”
Sweet Peas: “The secret to sweet peas is simple: the more you pick, the more they grow! Keep harvesting the flowers for your indoor vases and snip off any spent heads before they go to seed to keep the blooms coming.”
Topiary: “Give your box hedges, bays, or yew topiary a neat summer haircut now to sharpen up their silhouettes for the rest of the season.”
Thin out tree fruit: “If you're growing apples and pears, they often over-produce. If you see large, congested clusters of fruit, thin them down to just two or three healthy fruits per cluster. This ensures the tree channels its energy into growing larger, healthier fruit rather than a crowd of tiny ones.”
Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor
