presenter and gardening expert has highlighted the importance of pruning correctly as winter comes to an end and spring finally begins to arrive.
As someone who has turned his profession into a lifelong passion, Monty Don shares tips and advice through his personal website, where he posts monthly written blogs on how to maintain the best-looking garden. With the colder months coming to an end, many gardeners are looking to tidy up their outdoor spaces now to reduce the amount of work later. One of the best ways to ensure healthy plant growth and maintain a clean garden is through pruning. This process improves plant health, shape, and productivity by removing dead or diseased branches and reshaping the plant’s structure.
Pruning also allows more light and air to reach the plant, stimulating stronger growth and improving the quality of blooms. But, Monty Don emphasises one key rule when it comes to pruning: always cut back to something, such as a side shoot or leaf bud.
He advised: “The first half of March is the best time to prune any shrubs and climbers that will flower on new growth and in particular late flowerings clematis, roses and buddleia. I know that pruning can be the cause of some anxiety but there is only one rule to follow which is always cut back to something, be it a side shoot or leaf bud. Other than that do not worry unduly about outward facing buds of any such finessing.”
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While pruning is essential, it is also easy to make mistakes that can be costly and time-consuming. Some of the most common ones include:
Monty also highlighted that one of the key reasons for pruning is to “encourage vigorous new growth that will, in turn, produce lots of flowers.” This ensures that as spring approaches, gardens will be filled with healthy, vibrant blooms.
To keep your outdoor space looking its best for the new season, it’s advisable to start pruning now while temperatures are still low, preventing damage and extra work later. By doing these tasks in advance, gardeners can ensure their plants thrive and their gardens will look their best in the months ahead.
