Pruning time

A word of warning, though: don’t prune during heatwaves, and don’t cut back tender plants that have been sunburnt – it’s best to leave the burnt sections to protect the lower foliage, then prune the plant when the worst of the heat is over. Here are some plants that enjoy a summer trim:

• Prune spring- and summer-flowering ornamental and native plants, such as kangaroo paw, once they’ve finished blooming.
• Cut back geraniums and pelargoniums, then fertilise to promote new disease-free shoots and a good autumn display.
• Prune summer fruit trees, especially cherries and apricots, after harvesting.
• Trim petunias and other summer annuals that are starting to become lanky, then fertilise them fortnightly with a liquid flower-promoting plant food.
• Tip-prune lillypillies to remove leaves that have been disfigured by pimple psyllid attack.
• Cut back flowered stems on hydrangeas – or you can leave this job until autumn if the plants are still looking good.

Header image credit: iStock