As the winter days close in, it’s tempting to survey your garden and consider cutting back some of your plants to give them the best chance of weathering the freezing temperatures.
It’s an excellent strategy for many trees and shrubs, reducing the risk of winter mildew and encouraging future growth and flowering in the spring.
However, the safest option is to avoid pruning your plants during a winter sales campaign unless they’ve grown against the property, limit the amount of natural light coming into the building or interfere with drainage and guttering.
Old wood
Flowers on rhododendrons, azaleas and lilac bushes grow on old wood, so if you start clipping away, you’ll reduce their ability to flower when spring arrives. These plants should be trimmed after flowering in late spring and early summer.
Quick grower
The forsythia shrubs can quickly dominate a flowerbed because they’re so fast-growing. However, it’s another plant that blooms on old wood. So, if you didn’t prune it back last spring, you’ll need to wait.
Standing tall
Globe thistle and cornflowers produce flowerheads full of seeds that attract birdlife and give them an essential diet in winter. Cornflowers self-sow, so watch out for more popping up where they’re not wanted.
Food source
Another plant offering birdlife winter sustenance is the Black-Eyed Susan. You can leave this plant alone until the spring.
Sage advice
Winter pruning risks damaging Russian Sage, a perennial susceptible to the ravages of winter if clipped back too late in the season. To ensure its survival, mulch generously around its roots.
Easy mistake
Pruning hydrangeas is perilous. You need to know the variety before taking the secateurs to it. Making a mistake is so easy. Some types grow on old wood and should be left. These include oakleaf, bigleaf, mountain, and climbing varieties. Ask for advice at your local garden store if you’re in doubt.