A final summertime trim

Ruth tidies up her grapevine, trees and wayward shrubs

- Ruth Hayes

THERE is still time to finish summer pruning before the temperatures start to drop and certain fungal diseases become more prevalent once again (see panel, right). It is a good time to restore some order to trees and shrubs that have exploded into growth during our warm, damp summer.

It keeps them shapely and reduces the risk of damage should long whippy stems be blown about by winter storms.

This is especially important with climbing shrubs such as wisteria, pyracantha and climbing or rambling roses. Deadhead and cut back flowered stems and secure them to their supports.

This is also a good time to note whether supportive trellises and netting will need replacing over the winter months when the plants are dormant.

Evergreen shrubs that have become unruly can be trimmed now. They shouldn't be pruned in winter, unlike many deciduous woody plants, because the cold weather can burn the fresh cuts, causing unsightly dieback.

This week I have also given our grape vine a light trim. Because vines are prone to heavy bleeding if pruned when they are in full growth, they get their main pruning in early or midwinter when they are dormant.