Pruning helps maintain healthy plants by eliminating dead, dying, or diseased branches, promoting robust growth. Woody plants typically rest during winter, and pruning then reduces the risk of pests and diseases entering fresh cuts. Gardening expert Monty Don shares key February pruning strategies to boost flowering later in the season.
General Pruning Tips
Monty Don recommends completing pruning tasks in February, especially for those in southern UK regions. He advises using sharp tools for cleaner cuts that minimize plant damage and enhance safety. “Not only does it make life much easier, but it also makes for much cleaner cuts and therefore causes less damage to the plant. Sharp tools are also much safer,” Don states.
Pruning Roses
Roses thrive as hardy shrubs and recover well from pruning. Monty Don outlines three key factors for effective rose care.
Shrub Roses
Shrub roses need minimal attention. A simple trim with a hedge trimmer works well. Don prunes his in winter or early spring by removing long, damaged, or crossing branches. He notes a strong preference for late summer or early autumn pruning in some cases.
Climbing Roses
Climbing roses split into two groups. True climbers produce single large blooms from early summer through autumn. Prune these in autumn or winter to preserve a framework of long lateral stems with side branches that flower on new spring growth. Remove about one-third of the oldest, woodiest stems annually for rejuvenation.
Rambler Roses
Ramblers offer clusters of small flowers once in mid-summer. They require little pruning but benefit from training and trimming right after blooming, as flowers emerge on stems from the previous late summer.
Pruning Late-Flowering Clematis
Varieties like Clematis jackmanii, Clematis viticella, Gypsy Queen, Hagley Hybrid, Perle d’Azur, and Ville de Lyon flower on spring growth. Cut them back hard from mid-February. Don cuts to about two feet from the ground, leaving at least two healthy pairs of buds. “They all flower on growth made in spring, so all the previous year’s growth should be cleared away now,” he explains.
Pruning Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
For those in milder southern or sheltered spots, February marks the ideal time to prune buddleia davidii. In cooler areas, extend into March. This plant flowers on new growth, so hard cutting now encourages fresh shoots and more blooms. For open spaces, reduce to two or three basal shoots. In borders, cut to two or three feet high to avoid competition with nearby plants for light and air.
