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Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Expert warns gardeners to prune these plants in August - or risk limiting their growth next year
An expert has revealed plants that gardeners should prune in August - warning that if it is left too late, growth may be limited the following year. Richard Barker, a garden expert and commercial director at LBS Horticulture, told Country Living that there are five plants people should pay specific attention to this month. Pruning involves cutting dead and wilting branches, leaves, and blooms off plants and trees. August is a key month for summer pruning. Action now will not only stimulate future flowers but help certain plants to develop long-term fruiting spurs. Fruit trees, if regularly pruned, are more productive, with better quality fruits. Roses left untouched, flower poorly and are more disease-prone. Undisciplined climbers can pull buildings apart, and fine hedges need regular, precision clipping. Wisterias, even barren ones, can be kicked into flowering by corrective pruning. Lavender Lavender is surprisingly low maintenance: however, when it comes to pruning, timing is key. If left untouched, the plant can become woody, according to Richard, which can result in fewer flowers. Richard said: 'It will need to be pruned in late summer after flowering has finished to keep the plant compact.' Wisteria Wisteria should be pruned twice a year, according to Richard - once in August (or July) and once in January or February. Any long green stems should be cut back to about 30cm during the summer prune. The plant can flower more regularly when it is properly maintained. It's worth noting that wisteria can climb right up to the top of houses and into gutters, so a ladder may be needed to reach it. Always take safety precautions. Apple and pear trees Apple and pear trees that are grown in restricted form require pruning this month, according to the expert. New shoots, which have grown this summer from the main branches, will be pretty obvious. They usually point upwards and will be turning from soft to woody. Richard said that 'when the bottom third of [a tree's] new shoots are stiff and woody, with pears ready before apples' is when the job should be done. The new shoots should be cut back by locating a leaf cluster close to the main branch with more leaves at intervals along the new shoot. Count two or three leaves above that basal cluster, and cut there, to leave a short stump. Hydrangea Climbing hydrangeas should be pruned in summer, according to Richard, who noted that the task should be done after the plant has finished flowering. Doing this will ensure it has had sufficient time to develop flowering wood for next year. Roses Gardeners should prune rambling roses in the summer, after they have produced flowers and hips, according to Richard. However, this job can also be done at any time until late autumn or winter. When pruning roses, care should be taken not to make cuts of more than 5mm above a bud, and any cuts made should be at an angle. This helps to stop water collecting, which can cause disease on the roses if it pools in excess. Gardeners also need to prune back any dead and diseased stems as well as crossing stems for the perfect summer rose.
Daily Mirror
14-08-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to prune 5 plants in August 'before it's too late'
These five plants should be pruned back in August (Image: Getty Images/Image Source) Gardeners are being urged to start shearing away at these five plants – or risk producing lacklustre growth the following year. As the weather continues to heat up and the sun blazes, more Brits are spending time outside – which means you want your garden looking as well-maintained as possible. Aside from the usual mowing, watering and weeding, a task which is often overlooked when it comes to gardening is pruning. Pruning is one of a gardener's most important tasks when it comes to keeping plants healthy. By cutting away dead, wilting or excess blooms, branches and leaves, you help redirect energy and resources back to the plant. READ MORE: 'I'm a professional gardener - these are the most beautiful flowers to plant in August' READ MORE: Gardeners told to put one common food on their bird table as soon as possible Pruning is an important gardening task (Image: Getty) It also helps bushes and trees keep their shape. This in turn prevents them from growing out of control and taking over large swathes of your garden. When it comes to flowers, pruning also encourages them to produce fresh blooms and can lead to a more vibrant appearance. In turn, it will help your garden maintain a lush summer look. Another important benefit of pruning is that it can help curb disease by cutting away afflicted parts of the plant. This way, you can help stop the spread. So, which plants should be pruned back in August? According to a gardening expert, there are five plants in particular that you should pay attention to this month. Richard Barker, a gardens expert and commercial director at LBS Horticulture, told Country Living: "When left alone, lavender can become woody, so it will need to be pruned in late summer after flowering has finished to keep the plant compact.' Richard advised that climbing hydrangeas should be pruned in summer, once it has finished flowering. This way, the plant will have had enough time to develop flowering wood for the following year. Wisteria should be pruned twice a year to ensure more blooms (Image: (Image: Getty)) According to Richard, wisteria should be pruned twice a year – once in July or August and once in January or February. While it can be left to ramble, pruning at these times helps the plant flower 'more freely and regularly'. Rambling roses should cut back in summer once they've produced flowers and hips, as per Richard. They can be pruned at any point up until late autumn or winter. You should prune apple trees in the summer (Image: Getty) Richard advised that apple and pear trees grown in restricted form should be pared back in summer, and that the plant will be ready to prune 'when the bottom third of its new shoots are stiff and woody, with pears ready before apples.'
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Popular plants that love common kitchen item so it never goes to waste
Want to cut down on food waste and help your flowers grow? These three gorgeous blooms are ubiquitous in British gardens and absolutely love one popular ingredient If you're a fan of brewing a morning coffee you're probably sick of throwing away piles of grounds – luckily, there are three plants which will slurp them right up. It may surprise you, but coffee grounds are a great resource for your garden. Coffee makes a fantastic fertiliser, as it is high in elements like nitrogen, which is crucial for plant growth. Nitrogen helps form chlorophyll, which is the compound that allows plants to photosynthesise and absorb necessary nutrients. On top of that, it also contains key nutrients like potassium and phosphorus, which help with processes like photosynthesis and nutrient transport. They can also make your plant more resistant to disease. READ MORE: Households urged to soak one vegetable in water and pour over plants Even better, coffee grounds are incredibly versatile. They can either be added directly to the soil or onto your compost pile. Although, it's important to remember that not all plants will benefit from coffee grounds. Since coffee can make the soil more acidic, it's best to use it on acid-loving plants. Luckily for those with coffee grounds to spare, there are many common plants that will benefit. According to Ideal Home, are three popular plants that you can fertilise with coffee grounds: Hydrangeas These bright flowers bloom best in acidic soil conditions. Even better, adding coffee grounds to the soil is also a popular gardening hack that can turn hydrangeas from pink to blue, completely brightening your blooms. 'Just note that coffee grounds shouldn't be used as a replacement for fertiliser,' Graham Smith MCIHort, a horticultural expert from LBS Horticulture told Ideal Home. Instead, he recommended using a 'balanced fertiliser'. Camellias An evergreen plant, camellias produce delicate blossoms in pink, white and red. They benefit from the addition of coffee grounds in their soil thanks to the acidic pH and boost of nitrogen. According to Ideal Home, camellia shrubs prefer rich, organic matter in their soil. As such, the coffee grounds serve to mimic the natural leaf debris they would receive in their native woodland habitat. Rhododendrons These well-loved flowers enjoy a low pH as well as receiving an extra flow of nitrogen. Adding coffee grounds to their soil may even see them produce bigger blooms. However, Ideal Home suggests mixing the grounds with another ingredient first for optimal results. They write: 'Mix your coffee grounds with organic mulch around the rhododendrons' root zone for maximum benefit.'
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Eight ways to fireproof your garden in a heatwave
While we all love a British heatwave, our gardens can suffer without rain and, in especially high temperatures, can even become a fire hazard. Dry conditions coupled with long days of heat create the ideal circumstances for a blaze to start. Fire and rescue services in the UK reported an increase in incidents of 1 per cent at the end of September 2024, compared with the same time the year before. The Met Office predicts an increase in wildfires worldwide of 50 per cent by 2100. While there's no doubt that garden fires are becoming more of a concern in the UK, there are things you can do to minimise the risks and fireproof your garden. Choose plants wisely Most of us don't choose our plants with potential fires in mind, but there are some things worth considering, especially when a drought is approaching. 'Plants that can hold on to moisture, such as succulents, are less flammable than those with thin or dry leaves,' says Graham Smith, a gardening expert from gardening suppliers LBS Horticulture. 'These plants burn slower, and will not spread fire to other areas of your garden as quickly. You can still use plants that are highly flammable, but ensure that you are planting them a few feet away from your home to prevent the spread of fire as much as possible.' Give plants some space It's also important properly to space your plants apart from each other in your garden, so that if a fire does break out, it won't spread quickly from one plant to another. This is especially important if you have shrubs and trees. 'Avoid plants that grow densely,' says Andrew White, a gardening expert at Rhino Greenhouses, 'as once they begin to burn, you'll find the whole plant will quickly become engulfed and it could fuel a fire that could quickly become out of control.' Keep your lawn short and moist For most of the year in the UK, we don't need to worry about watering our established lawns, but in especially hot and dry weather, grass will need a helping hand. Don't be tempted to overwater; it's necessary to water your lawn only once or twice a week when there's no rain on the horizon, and it's better to give your lawn a good soaking infrequently than to water constantly. But far more important for fireproofing is to keep your grass short. 'Lawns can spread fire fast if they are not being maintained correctly,' says Smith. 'Tall or dry grass will catch fire quickly, and turn a small fire into a larger one. Keep your lawn short, and consider watering your grass during warm, dry weather, as a higher moisture content in the soil and grass blades can slow the spread of fire.' Place your barbecue in a safe spot Disposable barbecues cause havoc every year in hot weather and most outdoor leisure areas have visible warnings against using them because of the fire risk they pose. In your own back garden, using your barbecue is relatively safe, but where you decide to place it can be an important factor when it comes to the risk of a fire breaking out. Ensure your barbecue is placed on a flat surface, not on decking, and far away from sheds, trees and other plants. The type of barbecue you choose also has a bearing on your risk of fire breaking out. 'Hot and dry weather increases the risk of fires in your garden, and when pairing this with a coal barbecue, the risk of a fire breaking out in your garden increases massively,' says White. 'Where possible, use a gas one, or cook inside on particularly hot and dry days. This helps to minimise the risk of things in your garden catching fire.' If you do use a coal barbecue, make sure it's properly extinguished once you have finished cooking. Close the lid and all the vents on the bottom of the grill to cut off the oxygen supply to the coals. Use firepits safely The rise in popularity of firepits in our gardens over the past few years has largely been a positive one. Who doesn't love sitting around a fire, toasting marshmallows and stargazing? But it's important to use firepits safely. 'If you have a firepit in your garden, it should be surrounded by a non-flammable area made from gravel or concrete,' says Smith. 'Ensure that you have a garden hose nearby that can be used to extinguish flames quickly if needed. You should also avoid using wood or wicker furniture near a firepit, and opt for furniture made from non-flammable materials such as wrought iron or aluminium. If these furnishings have soft elements such as cushions or seat covers, these should be kept indoors if fire is a concern.' There are also some rules around using firepits that you need to follow. Don't burn household waste that can cause pollution, such as plastic, and watch where the smoke from your firepit is drifting: it can be a nuisance to neighbours and in some cases can be a hazard to traffic. Control your compost heap It's a rare occurrence, but in high temperatures a compost heap can spontaneously combust. Most fires in compost heaps start because the heap has a lot of dry leaves or even pieces of wood that have lain unmoved for some time. Compost heaps have damp innards that store heat, so it's important to manage them well. 'Compost piles can pose a fire risk, especially during hot weather,' says landscaper Simon Wilkinson, who is DSEAR-qualified (dangerous substances and explosive atmospheres regulations). 'Compost generates heat as it decomposes and it can catch fire, so keep it away from your home, shed and any other wooden structures, and turn it over regularly to prevent it from getting too hot.' Choose the right kind of mulch The same can be said for garden mulch. While it serves a good purpose and can keep weeds at bay, it can be flammable, and large piles of mulch can combust in the same way that compost can. 'Mulching is often used to retain soil moisture,' says Smith, 'but the moisture-retaining properties of the mulch can potentially have the opposite effect if you use a material such as woodchips or straw. Try to use alternative materials instead, such as gravel.' Consider your furniture and surfaces Glass tables on your patio look nice, but consider carefully any glass you have in your garden. 'Glass tables, bottles and drinking cups can act like magnifying glasses, concentrating sunlight. This can easily start a fire if the conditions are right,' says Wilkinson. 'One way to give yourself peace of mind is to use fireproof paint on your fencing, sheds and pergolas, which can massively reduce the ability of a fire to spread if one did break out.' The easiest way to reduce your risk of a garden fire is by minimising its spread, and your garden provides you with many opportunities to combine safety with style. 'Hardscaping can be used to landscape a garden,' says Smith, 'but it can also function as a firebreak. Gravel paths, paved patios and stone walls can slow or prevent the spread of fire without needing to compromise on the overall aesthetics of your garden.'
