August Pruning Essentials for Gardeners: Don't forget to trim these 7 plants for a beautiful garden – prune these flowers and shrubs prior to the start of fall
August marks the beginning of the cooler months for many gardens, and with it comes the need for pruning. Pruning is an essential gardening task that helps to keep plants healthy, compact, and ready for the colder seasons. Here's a guide to the best plants to prune in August.
Bottlebrush shrubs (Callistemon) are ideal for sunny yards, requiring very little water. After their initial bloom, pruning these plants helps to keep them compact and bushy, allowing new shoots to harden before winter.
Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) is another plant that benefits from August pruning. Trimming helps to maintain its shape, especially for topiary, ideally at least two months before frost arrives to let cuts harden off. As a precaution, remember that Japanese holly is toxic to humans and can irritate the skin, so it's recommended to wear gardening gloves when pruning.
Perennials like catmint, salvia, coreopsis, bee balm, yarrow, daylilies, hardy geranium, garden phlox, santolina, and echinacea also require pruning in August. Light pruning or deadheading rejuvenates growth, encourages more blooms, and reduces disease risk.
Lavender is another plant that benefits from August pruning. Deadheading spent flower spikes carefully encourages a second smaller bloom and keeps plants compact without cutting into woody bases.
Bougainvillea vines also need pruning in August. Light trimming in early to mid-August encourages more flowers, while avoiding heavy pruning until late winter or early spring.
Oakleaf and bigleaf hydrangeas should be pruned after flowering in August. Cutting back spent flowers and shaping the shrub helps to encourage healthy growth and flowering next year.
For climbing plants, a telescopic ladder can be useful for reaching taller vines. For pruning out-of-reach whippy stems, extendable pruners like Fiskars are recommended. For Japanese holly, long-handled loppers like Suizan can help achieve a nice, clean and uniform cut.
Remember, timing for pruning is important. It's best to prune in the cooler parts of the day. Wisteria vines, if not regularly pruned, can get out of control, especially Chinese wisteria, which is considered an invasive climber in 19 US states.
In summary, August pruning targets plants that have finished their initial bloom cycle or show growth that needs shaping before colder seasons. Deadheading spent flowers on perennials and shrubs stimulates further blooming, while summer trimming of evergreen shrubs like holly maintains form. With appropriate tools and safety precautions, August pruning can help ensure a healthy garden for the rest of the year.
[1] Garden Myths: Pruning Bottlebrush https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/pruning-bottlebrush/12345162 [2] Perennial Pruning Guide https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how/pruning/perennial-pruning-guide.htm [3] Pruning Perennials https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-care/perennials/pruning-perennials/ [4] Pruning Hydrangeas https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-care/flowers/hydrangeas/pruning-hydrangeas/ [5] Pruning Lavender https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-care/flowers/lavender/pruning-lavender/
[1] Home-and-garden enthusiasts should consider the need for pruning their garden tools as August arrives, since it marks the start of the cooler months and the need for pruning various plants. Pruning is a crucial lifestyle task that helps keep plants healthy, compact, and ready for the colder seasons.
[2] After their initial bloom, pruning bottlebrush shrubs (Callistemon) helps to keep them compact and bushy, allowing new shoots to harden before winter, benefiting from both light pruning and essential gardening techniques.
