I’m a gardening expert and pruning is vital the the health of your plants – here’s why and how to do it right

SUMMER is already full of gardening jobs.

From planting new blooms to mowing your lawn, any keen gardener's to-do list is already pretty full.

But according to Gardeners’ World, there's one summer task that always gets overlooked.

It's easy to forget to prune your plants and bushes when your lawn looks totally dead, but once everything else is in order it's important to prune.

The pros explained, "By pruning in summer, you can reap the rewards of better displays from ornamental plants, you’ll also encourage bigger crops from fruit trees and bushes.

"Removing new summer growth before it turns woody reduces growth-promoting nitrogen, allowing potassium to build up – and more potassium means more flowers and fruit.

Read more on gardening

I’m a gardening expert – how to stop plants dying while you’re on a holiday

How to stop pigeons ruining your garden & pooing on the car using a 25p trick

"You’ll also keep plants, such as shrubs, climbers and rambling roses, within bounds and maintain an attractive shape."

Hedges

It's important to prune hedges and topiary to maintain a neat shape and prevent them becoming unruly.

You can do this with a simple pair of hand shears, the gardening experts recommend.

They explained: "Clip slow-growing beech, hornbeam or box at the start and end of the summer.

Most read in Fabulous

LASHED OUT

I charged my client £355 for lash extensions…people say she went home and cried

MINI MOBSTER

My family hate my baby son's name… they say it sounds like a 'drug gangster'

SNATCHED

I got my face tattooed so I have permanent contour…But some say it's unhealthy

PIZZA THIS

I'm a Domino's employee – there's one pizza that we use 'scrap' toppings for

"Trim fast-growing privet every six weeks.

"You could also use secateurs or topiary shears for small hedges."

Climbers

If you've got any climbers in your garden they'll probably also need to be pruned to "stop their growth getting out of control and stopping them outgrowing their allotted space."

This includes plants like wisteria, jasmine and honeysuckle.

Expert gardening advice

I’m a gardening expert and here’s my £2 trick to kill patio weeds & STOP them returning

Monty Don reveals how to stop slugs and snails ruining your plants all year round

I’m a gardening expert – everyone should follow these 6 etiquette rules, including NEVER mowing after 1pm on a Saturday

Expert Alan Titchmarsh reveals why you should never declutter your small garden and how to make it bigger

Expert reveals how to get the most out of your backyard all year round

Easy hack to kill weeds from your driveway cracks

A gardener's calendar – what you should be doing month to month

"Prune back trailing stems, leaving just three to four leaves on the current season’s growth."

They gardening experts added: "Then train in new growth to ensure there’s an even spread of flowers."

Shrubs

First of all, spring flowering shrubs need to be pruned, the pros explained that "shrubs that flower on stems formed in the previous year need to be pruned in summer, after flowering."

Read More on The Sun

I’m an expert – here’s why a dry mouth could be a sign of something serious

Gemma Collins reveals shrinking figure as she strips to hot pink swimsuit

Tender shrubs also need to be pruned, since they could be damaged by any late frosts.

This includes abutilion, outdoor fuchsias and hibiscus sinosyriacus.

    Source: Read Full Article