Pruning Guides

Quick Answer Prune herbaceous perennials in late winter, from January to February, once plants are fully dormant and before new growth begins. Cut ground cover types back to around 5cm, taller perennials to between 6cm and 12cm, and only lightly tidy evergreen herbaceous plants. Leaving the dried stems in place over autumn and winter feeds […]

Quick Answer Prune flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) immediately after flowering finishes, typically late April to May. Never prune in autumn or winter, since this removes next spring’s flower buds. Remove around a fifth to a third of the oldest stems to ground level each year, or cut hard back to 30 to 50cm for a […]

Quick Answer Prune deciduous berberis such as Berberis thunbergii in mid to late winter while dormant, from December to February. Prune evergreen berberis such as Berberis darwinii immediately after flowering, from May to June. Always wear thorn proof gloves and remove dead wood at any time of year. Transform your berberis from an overgrown, tangled […]

Quick Answer Prune cherry trees in mid to late summer, ideally July to August, and never in winter, since cold, damp cuts invite silver leaf disease and bacterial canker. Remove dead or crossing growth first, thin congested branches, and aim for an open goblet shape, taking no more than a quarter of the canopy in […]

Quick Answer Most garden buddlejas, Buddleja davidii and its hybrids, are pruned hard in late March to mid April, cutting back to 30 to 60cm above the ground since they flower on new wood. Buddleja alternifolia and Buddleja globosa flower on old wood instead, so prune these immediately after flowering finishes rather than in spring, […]

Quick Answer Prune gooseberries twice a year for the best crops. In winter, while the bush is dormant, remove dead and crossing wood, take out a third of the oldest stems and shorten the rest by a third to create an open goblet shape. In late June, trim the current season’s side shoots back to […]

Quick Answer Prune forsythia immediately after flowering finishes, usually in April. Cut back flowered stems to a strong new shoot lower down, remove around a fifth of the oldest stems at the base, and thin out crowded growth in the centre of the shrub. Never prune in autumn or winter, since you will cut off […]

Quick Answer Prune camellias immediately after flowering finishes, never before. For Camellia japonica and x williamsii varieties this is usually May or June, and for sasanqua varieties it’s February or March. Remove dead, damaged and crossing growth first, then trim back up to one third of the current year’s growth to shape, always cutting just […]

Quick Answer The best cordless hedge trimmer for most UK gardens is the Ryobi OHT1855R ONE+ for everyday domestic use, the Ryobi OHT1850X for hard-to-reach hedges and taller boundaries, and the STIHL HSA 56 if you want premium build quality and are prepared to pay for it. I have used Ryobi ONE+ tools extensively in […]

Quick Answer Prune pear trees in late winter between January and March when the tree is fully dormant. Remove all dead, diseased and damaged wood first, then cut out any crossing branches. Finally, shorten the remaining laterals by up to one quarter, cutting to an outward-facing bud at 45 degrees. Never remove more than 25% […]