As we're approaching mid-summer, many common shrubs can benefit from a seasonal trim. Some only require a quick tidy after they've finished flowering, while others need to be chopped more rigorously to keep them in check.
Even though pruning is a common gardening job that keeps plants healthy, it's admittedly a little heartbreaking to clip your favourite bushes – particularly when they're growing as vigorously as they do at this point in the season.
However, your bravery will be rewarded the following year, when they come back stronger and more beautiful than ever.
1. Box
According to Richard Barker, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, box shrubs should be trimmed twice a year, with the second chop ideally done in August when its growth has slowed down.
"This prune will help the plant to hold its shape over winter so it does not look shaggy, and ensures that any soft growth will not be killed by frosts," he says.
Pick a dry, overcast day for your pruning session as the harsh summer sun can quickly scorch freshly cut leaf edges, the expert warns. Also, nesting season typically runs until the end of August, so be sure to check for nesting birds before you attack with your loppers.
"Trim the sides of the plant vertically, keeping the blades of your secateurs parallel to the hedge surface. If you are shaping topiary, use bamboo canes as guides while shaping," the expert advises.
"Cut any dead, diseased or damaged branches back to healthy growth to promote air circulation and prevent diseases, and after pruning gently run a gloved hand over the plant to dislodge any hidden or trapped cut leaves."
2. Thyme
Thyme typically finishes flowering by late July or August, which is when you can give it a good trim to help it stay compact and bushy. Leave it uncut, and you run the risk of it growing woody.
"Lightly trim around the plant, and remove dried flower spikes to redirect the plant's energy into leaf production," says Richard, urging: "Do not cut into bare wood, as this can potentially kill the plant."
3. Bottlebrush
Mid- to late summer is also the ideal time to prune bottlebrush plants, allowing new growth to harden off before the arrival of winter. Cut stems with spent flowers back by a third, trimming just above a leaf node or healthy side shoot, Richard says.
"Any spindly, overly long branches can be cut back too to maintain a compact shape. Clear out the centre of the plant by removing dead, diseased and crossing branches, as this allows sunlight and air to reach the interior and keeps the foliage healthy," he adds.
"Do not cut deeply into bare wood that has no leaves, as the plant may struggle to produce new growth from old wood."
4. English Lavender
Next on our pruning list is English lavender, which responds well to a late-season trim. "Although most of the flowers will have faded, the weather can sometimes still be warm enough for the plant to put out new, green growth, which will need time to harden off before winter," Richards explains.
To prune, find the soft, leafy growth underneath the dried flower stalks. Then cut back into the current season's growth, but avoid pruning any of the older or bare wood as the plant can struggle to recover and even die, the expert warns.
"Gather handfuls of dried stems and trim them back, aiming for a dome-shaped mound," he adds. "This shape will stop rain or snow pooling in the centre of the plant, as this can cause it to rot over winter."
5. Summer-flowering Jasmine
This shrub, famous for its star-shaped blooms emitting a heady scent, can also be cut back now. "In late August you should be able to easily see which stems produced flowers this year by the faded flower clusters," says Richard.
"Trim stems that have finished blooming back by roughly a third, cutting just above a healthy leaf node or strong side shoot. Remove dead, diseased, damaged and crossing branches. Thinning out the centre allows light and air to reach it, promoting better blooming the following year."
Avoid removing any of the fresh green, non-flowering shoots as they will produce flowers next summer. Also, never cut back more than a third of the overall plant to keep it healthy.
6. Hebe
Finally, don't forget about this popular evergreen shrub. Hebe offers year-round foliage, with dense spikes of tiny blossoms emerging from midsummer onwards.
"To keep the large-leaved, vigorous growers such as Hebe ‘Midsummer Beauty’ healthy and prevent it from becoming woody, you should both deadhead and prune lightly once it finishes flowering in August," says Lucie Bradley of Easy Garden Irrigation.
"When pruning hebe it's important that you never hard prune or cut back into old, bare wood and often won't regrow and you could finish off losing your whole shrub," she advises.
"Prune cautiously, only cutting back stems so you can leave green leaves or buds lower down the branches. This also means, even when you have an overgrown hebe you should stagger pruning to prevent damage, only pruning a maximum of one third at a time."
Summer gardening edit
John Lewis VegTrug
Metal Square Digging Spade
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
