The start of spring signals the beginning of the calendar for many Britons. Warmer weather, longer days and stable temperatures give plants the opportunity to thrive in . However, in order for plants to flourish, gardeners may need to give their gardens some attention.

One task that needs to be done in the spring months is . Pruning plants encourages new growth and can improve their flowers and fruit. Pruning is also a chance to remove dead, diseased and damaged branches and stems from plants that could be vulnerable to pest infestations.

With this in mind, Express.co.uk has spoken to two gardening experts to find out which plants need to be pruned in spring to help encourage new growth and vibrant blooms.

Gardening expert Liam Cleary at the an award-winning garden centre, named eight plants that need pruning now.

He said: "Flowering shrubs like forsythia, camellia, magnolia, lilac, lavender, hydrangea, buddleia, and roses should be pruned as spring approaches to remove any dead or damaged growth left over from the winter. This helps encourage healthy new growth and vibrant blooms for the upcoming season.

"For early-flowering shrubs, like forsythia and camellia, it's important to prune right after they bloom to avoid cutting off next year's flower buds."

Roses

The best time to prune roses is in late winter and early spring, so it's important that gardeners tackle this task sooner rather than later.

Holly Jones, a gardening expert from , said when pruning roses in spring gardeners should "remove dead, diseased, or weak stems and shape for new growth".

When pruning roses, gardeners will need to cut at a 45-degree angle using sharp secateurs.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangea pruning requires removing dead and damaged wood. However, gardeners should consider the type of hydrangea they have before they start cutting.

Holly said gardeners need to "cut back old blooms on mophead and lacecap varieties" and "prune paniculata and arborescens types harder".

Lavender

Lavenders should ideally only be pruned in spring when the plant is still dormant before it starts forming buds.

They can be trimmed when new green growth appears but when the plant starts to form buds, pruning isn't necessary. Pruning in spring can remove any damage from winter but could delay flowering.

"Trim lightly to maintain shape but avoid cutting into old wood," Holly added.

Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)

Buddleia needs to be pruned hard in spring or late winter to encourage flowers later on.

Buddleia top growth can be cut down to around half its height. Dead stubs and branches can be removed, and crossing branches can be thinned.

This plant grows vigorously, so don't worry if you cut it back too aggressively.

Forsythia

Forsythia needs to be pruned immediately after flowering once the blooms have faded and the plant starts producing new leaves.

When pruning forsythia, gardeners should trim back stems by around half and remove any congested growth or crossed stems.

Removing one or two of the big branches will allow the plant to breathe and have more access to light.

Camellia

Camellias should be pruned after they finish flowering, which can be done in late spring or early summer.

When pruning, remove old blooms and thin out any crossing or rubbing branches to improve air circulation. This is also a good time to work on the plant's shape.

Magnolia

Magnolia trees should be pruned in late winter or early spring before the tree starts blooming.

When pruning the tree, remember to remove dead branches and damaged growth to maintain the tree's health.

The tree can then be lightly pruned again in late summer or early autumn to prepare it for winter.

Lilac

Gardeners should remove dead, diseased and broken stems when pruning lilacs in spring. Lilacs can also be shaped during pruning in spring.