Monty Don Highlights Importance of Pruning Plants in May
In the realm of gardening, May emerges as a crucial month for pruning specific plants to ensure their optimal health and flowering during the following year. Monty Don, the esteemed gardening expert, underscores the significance of pruning early-flowering clematis, such as C.montana, armandii, alpina, and macropetala, immediately after their flowering period concludes.
Pruning Clematis in May: A Must for Future Blooms
Don emphasizes that pruning these clematis varieties in May is essential as next year’s flowers develop on new growth produced from this period until late summer. Pruning them later in the year could inadvertently remove potential flower buds that would otherwise bloom the following spring.
Pruning Clematis for Convenience and Aesthetics
Don notes that pruning clematis serves primarily to maintain their size and spread for practical reasons rather than horticultural benefits. He advises gardeners to prune freely, focusing on reducing the plant’s overall size and spread without being concerned about individual stems or the precision of the cuts.
Additional May Pruning Considerations: Lavender and Hibiscus
Lavender also benefits from pruning during May, particularly depending on its variety. In the United Kingdom, English lavender is considered more resilient, allowing it to be left outdoors year-round, while French lavender may require more frequent pruning. Pruning lavender encourages improved flowering and prevents it from becoming leggy and weak.
Hibiscus is another plant that responds well to pruning in May, ahead of its new flowering season. For established hibiscus plants, minimal pruning is typically sufficient. However, younger plants may need to be cut back more aggressively, leaving at least two to three nodes on the branches to facilitate new growth.
