Photography: Martina Gemmola
In the chilly ground, bulbs wait patiently for the sun’s return in August. Though flowers sleep and the leaves of deciduous plants have all fallen, there is an untold beauty in winter gardens. With only one month left until spring, it’s time to rug up and tend to the last of our winter pruning.
How to prune and shape your trees
1. Give your fruit trees a touch-up
Many of us grow fruit trees, and the last month of winter is a good time to get them in shape before the growing season. When pruning fruit trees, remember the three Ds – dead, diseased and dying wood – simply put, remove any of these, along with broken limbs. We want to promote good airflow in our fruit trees, so prune them into an open-centred vase shape to welcome sunlight and ventilation, and help reduce disease. Remove any unwanted vertical shoots, weak or downward-facing growth, branches growing towards the centre of your tree, or ones that may be rubbing, crossing each other or growing too closely together.
When pruning and shaping your fruit trees, consider their overall height. While a tall apple tree may be visually appealing, it also needs to be practical. You should be able to comfortably and safely net and harvest the fruit in the summer. If this proves difficult, now is the time to reduce the height of fruit trees for easy harvesting in the coming months.
2. Don’t be afraid to prune your wisteria
Fruit trees aren’t the only plants that respond well to winter pruning. August is also a good month to tame climbers like wisteria. When it comes to pruning your wisteria, there are a few important points to remember. Firstly, don’t be afraid. Many of my clients are intimidated because they fear they may damage or kill the plant. However, wisteria is resilient. Secondly, take your time, follow the stems and double check before making any cuts. One of the most valuable lessons is one I learnt from my father and mentor: “You can always cut more off, but you can’t put it back on”.
I prefer to prune wisteria twice a year. In winter, I start by removing any dead wood and making sure the framework is intact, meaning the overall structure of the plant is in the desired position. Then, I cut back all the stems to two or three buds; this provides a safety buffer in case one of the buds is damaged. Wisteria flowers on old wood, so the flower buds for next year form on this year’s growth – keep this in mind when you’re pruning. I like to cut back wisteria a second time after it flowers in summer, removing any dead wood and pruning the stems to five buds. This can encourage a second round of flowering and maintains the structure of the climber.
3. Maintain your gardening tools
It’s worth emphasising the importance of keeping your tools clean and sharp when you’re pruning. Proper maintenance will give you clean cuts without tears and help prevent the spread of disease from one tree or plant to another.
4. Look out for bare-rooted plants
Bare-rooted plants, which are plants (mostly fruit trees and roses) that are grown specifically to be sold with their roots exposed. Winter is the perfect time to take advantage of the remaining supply of bare-rooted beauties for a fraction of the cost compared to potted plants. So keep an eye out for discounted strawberry runners, rhubarb and asparagus crowns, as they are a great way to enhance your garden without breaking the bank.
