Recommended and Avoided Plant Trimming Recommendations from Our On-site Horticulturist for This Particular Month
In the heart of summer, the garden is a vibrant spectacle. But it's also a crucial time for pruning, as professional gardener Orpheus reminds us. Here's a handy guide to help you navigate August gardening tasks, avoiding common mistakes and promoting plant health.
Goldenrod (Solidago) can be cut back now to prevent the seeds from spreading too vigorously. However, leave the foliage to maintain an impressive evergreen coverage and keep your garden looking lush.
On the other hand, there are plants that should be left untouched in August. Woody deciduous plants, for instance, should be left alone as pruning encourages growth that won't harden off before frost. This can potentially cause damage. Rhododendrons and camellias should also be spared, as they set their flower buds during this time.
Orpheus encourages readers to ask him for help with any gardening tasks in the comments section. His helpful videos can be found on Instagram @our website.
There are exceptions, though. Wisteria, plums, and cherries, for example, can be pruned in August. Plums and cherries should be pruned after fruiting to reduce infection risk of silver leaf disease. Wisteria should have whippy shoots removed to control size and promote flowering. Shrubs like Hypericum and Buddleia can also be pruned for shape and flower strength.
Other plants, such as Nepeta, provide nectar for pollinators and serve as a habitat for insects and wildlife over winter. Therefore, they should not be pruned in August. Poppies should also be left alone, as the seeds will disperse themselves naturally.
After cutting back foxgloves, the seeds will be released for next year's growth. Alchemilla Mollis should be cut back in August, going all the way down to the ground to encourage new growth.
August is also the time to tend to key plants for longer flowering and preparation for the seasons ahead. For instance, Poppies should not be cut back, as they will continue to provide colour well into autumn.
Orpheus, a gardener, designer, and lifelong plant enthusiast with a hands-on approach to creating natural, welcoming spaces, encourages us to enjoy our gardens, ask questions, and learn from the beauty around us. Happy gardening!
- Gardening tasks in August should not only focus on pruning, but also on maintaining the beauty and health of the garden, such as cutting back Goldenrod to prevent seed spread while keeping the foliage for an evergreen look.
- Contrarily, certain plants should be left untouched in August, like woody deciduous plants, Rhododendrons, and camellias, as pruning during this time can potentially cause damage or affect flowering.
- There are exceptions to the pruning rule in August, such as Wisteria, plums, and cherries, which can be cut back to control size, promote flowering, and reduce the risk of silver leaf disease.
- Leaving other plants like Nepeta and Poppies unpruned in August is beneficial, as they provide nectar for pollinators, serve as habitats for insects and wildlife over winter, and continue to provide color well into autumn.
