Care of trees and shrubs

Making them strong for summer’s growth, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

Cut back forsythia straight after fl owering so it has as long as possible to make wood to hold next year’s blossom

THIS spring has seen our garden blossom like never before. Maybe it’s thanks to the mild wet winter – though we moaned at the time – but the trees and shrubs have been gloriously prolific in their flowering.

Now most blooms have fallen and, where appropriate, fruitlets are developing and ornamental plants are putting on their summer growth. There’s plenty you can do for them, which is what I’ll be looking at on these two pages.

TOP TIP

Most trees and shrubs shouldn’t be pruned now as they are in growth and the wounds will bleed sap that may weaken them and give entry to pests and diseases.

Forsythia is always one of the earliest plants to show its spring colours, and once the blossom has fallen it needs pruning back at once. This is because the shrub produces each year’s flowers on wood produced the previous year, so if you cut it back as soon as possible the new wood has longer to grow and mature.

Other shrubs that need the same treatment include Kerria, Philadelphus and Weigela, which flower later in spring, and flowering currant bushes.

As with all shrubs and trees, you want to create an open shape via your pruning. This isn’t just cosmetic, as pruning into an attractive, uncomplicated and uncongested goblet shape also allows good airflow through the plant, which helps keep it healthy.