Angela Slater, horticultural expert says: “Some plants that flowered in the spring should never be pruned in August as they are making their flower buds for next spring in the summer.
So if you prune in August, you are removing next year’s flowers. These are rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
It is also important to conserve moisture in the summer and provide them with a special fertilizer that will also ensure abundant blooms next spring.
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Some flowering early summer shrubs, such as Philadelphus and Doitsiamake their buds the following year in late summer and early fall.
This means they should not be pruned this month because gardeners will “risk” not blooming, especially if the weather is too wet, cold, hot or dry.
Pruning evergreen shrubs in August can lead to a burst of new growth, especially if the weather is wet and warm. This soft new growth can be caught in the early frosts and may not have time to prepare before winter.”
Another big no-no when it comes to trimming this month includes the wrapping rosesas pruning them can prevent a second flush of flowering.
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This means gardeners should leave pruning until late October or even early November to give the best chance for more flowers.
Also do not prune the fruit trees, as you leave them exposed to disease. If the weather is too hot and dry in August, leave the pruning off as the plants will be stressed and unable to cope with the additional stress of the cutting.
Instead, focus on plants that can be pruned unless the weather is particularly hot, including wisteria.
To prune in August, cut the weak green shoots of the current year’s growth to five or six leaves, which will help control size.
Other tasks to make sure are completed this month include watering plants regularly if needed and maintaining lawn care.
