Gardeners are being advised to pick up their secateurs and start pruning in August.
Experts suggest pruning five specific plants this month to encourage healthy growth through the autumn and improve next season’s blooms.
The following are the best to prune before the summer season comes to an end.
5 plants you need to prune in August
Lavender
Richard Barker, 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.
"When pruning, remove faded flower stalks and roughly an inch of leaf growth.
"The lavender foliage can be clipped in spring if it looks untidy or has gotten frost-damaged.
"However, some lavender plants can bloom earlier in the season than others, so the exact timing of pruning will depend on the variety that you are growing."
He cautioned against cutting into the woody base unless removing damaged stems.
August is the ideal time to tend to lavender, hydrangea, wisteria, rambling roses, and certain fruit trees.
Climbing hydrangea
Climbing hydrangeas are the only type of hydrangea suited for summer pruning.
Barker said: "This type of hydrangea should be pruned after it has finished flowering, as this will ensure that the plant has enough time to develop flowering wood for the following year, as it produces flowers on the previous year's shoots.
"Prune back any flowered shoots, and shorten any new growth that looks to be overly long."
He emphasised avoiding severe cuts to hydrangeas that bloom on old wood, as this can reduce next year’s flowers.
Wisteria
Wisteria, the vigorous climber known for its cascading blooms, also benefits from an August trim.
Barker said: "Wisteria should be pruned twice a year, once in July or August, and then again in January or February.
"Plants can be left to ramble unchecked, but pruning can result in wisteria that flowers more freely and regularly.
"Summer pruning allows better air circulation around the plant and enables more sunlight to reach the young growth, which encourages the wood to ripen and improves flower bud formation."
In August, it’s important to cut back "whippy green shoots" from the current season’s growth, but avoid a hard prune until winter.
For established plants, side shoots should be cut back to the main framework.
Rambling roses
Only rambling roses should be pruned in summer, and that should be done after flowering, Barker advises.
He said: "In summer, only rambling roses should be pruned after they have produced flowers and hips.
"Although pruning can be carried out in August, it can be performed at any point up until late autumn or winter when it will be easier to see what you are doing as the rose is not in leaf."
For young rambling roses, cut stems back by about 40cm and remove any dead or damaged growth.
Older plants should be thinned, and stems that have already flowered can be removed if space is limited.
Barker recommends not pruning roses if rain is expected, as this can increase the risk of fungal infection at the cut sites.
Apple and pear trees
Summer pruning is also beneficial for certain fruit trees, like those bearing apples and pears.
Barker said: "Apple and pear trees that are trained as restricted forms can be pruned in summer, with standard or bush varieties best pruned in winter.
"The plant will be ready to prune when the bottom third of its new shoots are stiff and woody, with pears ready before apples."
Cut back new shoots longer than 20cm to a few leaves above the basal cluster of leaves, but leave shorter shoots to encourage fruiting.
Are you planning to prune any plants in your garden this August? Let us know in the comments.
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