Pruning is a crucial monthly gardening task that involves removing dead, diseased, and injured parts of plants to enhance their health and aesthetic appeal. This month, renowned gardener Monty Don has shared three types of plants that will benefit from pruning in June, as detailed in his recent blog post.
Wisteria
Monty Don advises that June is the ideal time to prune wisteria, especially after they have finished flowering, which typically occurs around mid-June. Gardeners should trim this year’s new shoots back to a spur, leaving no more than six inches of growth. This process also allows for tidying, training, and tying in the plant to prevent loose, trailing shoots.
If unsure about the extent of pruning, Monty recommends erring on the side of cutting too lightly. A more aggressive prune can be conducted in the new year when the foliage has died back, reducing each side shoot to just two or three inches.
Early Flowering Shrubs
Early flowering shrubs should be pruned this month to allow new growth to mature before winter, ensuring maximum flower production next spring. Mature shrubs should be pruned hard, with most flowering stems cut back to a healthy new shoot.
The oldest growth, up to a third or quarter of the plant, should be removed entirely to rejuvenate the shrub every three to four years. Overgrown shrubs should be rejuvenated gradually, with young shrubs having their weakest growth trimmed and the rest pruned to the desired shape and size. After pruning, Monty Don suggests weeding, watering, and mulching with compost.
Additionally, gardeners can take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, straight, non-flowering stems that have been pruned.
Apples, Pears, and Dessert Grapes
For fruit trees such as apples, pears, and dessert grapes, selective fruit thinning is essential in June. The tree naturally sheds some fruit to ensure the successful ripening of the remaining ones.
However, since the tree does not selectively drop fruit, Monty advises gardeners to remove the smallest fruit manually. He recommends reducing each cluster on a spur to just two fruits that are not touching each other. This practice not only promotes better growth and ripening of the remaining fruits but also reduces the risk of branch damage later in the year due to the weight of the fruit.
By following Monty Don’s expert advice, gardeners can ensure their plants remain healthy and vibrant throughout the season.
