6 plants gardeners must prune in July for ‘another flush of blooms’

As warm weather continues across the UK, a professional gardener shares essential July pruning tips to keep your garden blooming all summer long

As the warm weather persists throughout the month, gardens right across the UK have erupted into vibrant colour. If you’re keen to ensure your outdoor space looks just as stunning next year, it’s essential to invest the effort now.

Many of the UK’s best-loved plants will flourish even more abundantly with a spot of careful attention during this period — and with the sunshine streaming down, it’s an ideal opportunity to venture into the garden and tend to your cherished flowers.

Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor to Platinum Splash, has shared his expert recommendations for maintaining the garden this month and guaranteeing it blossoms once again next year.

He said: “As we head into July, the garden is truly in full bloom. It has been an absolutely fantastic year for roses, and with a little bit of careful maintenance this month, we can keep the spectacular show going right through the summer.”

Roses

During the warmer months, it’s vital to stay on top of your rose bushes.

Noah said: “Keep deadheading diligently. When a rose flower fades, don’t just snip the head off, cut the spent stem back to a healthy set of five leaves. This tricks the plant into pushing out another flush of gorgeous blooms.”

Wisteria

To manage the shape and flowering of your wisteria, now is the ideal moment to prune it back. Noah explained: “July is the perfect time for a summer wisteria prune.

“By now, it has likely sent out long, grabby, whippy green vines. Cut these unruly shoots back to about five buds to control the shape and encourage better flowering next year.”

Herbaceous Perennials

If your geraniums or other early summer perennials have completed their initial flowering period, now is an ideal opportunity to trim them back.

Noah said: “Cutting them back hard now will encourage a fresh foliage and a second wave of flowers.”

Sweet Peas

These blooms respond exceptionally well to frequent pruning. According to Noah, “the more you pick, the more they grow”.

He explained: “Keep harvesting the flowers for your indoor vases and snip off any spent heads before they go to seed to keep the blooms coming.”

Topiary

Give your topiary hedges a trim now to refine their outlines and maintain their appearance throughout the remainder of the summer.

Fruit trees

If you’re fortunate enough to have fruit trees in your garden, you may have observed they can occasionally produce excessive amounts. This month presents an excellent chance to prune them.

Noah explained: “If you see large, congested clusters of fruit, thin them down to just two or three healthy fruits per cluster. This ensures the tree channels its energy into growing larger, healthier fruit rather than a crowd of tiny ones.”