British horticulturist and TV presenter Monty Don has urged Brits to get into the garden and complete one crucial task this summer, following weeks of sunny spells and balmy temperatures
With summer just around the corner, Brits are being urged to crack on with one essential gardening job. The relentless British rain and grey clouds have slowly faded away – replaced with blue skies and sunny spells.
Temperatures are even slated to soar above 30C this week as the UK’s huge ‘heat spike’ continues to thaw out the nation. While the consistent sunshine may not be appreciated by sweaty Brits having to work inside, it will be well received by the flowers that have somehow survived the bleak winter.
Next month (June) should be when you start witnessing splashes of colour emerging in your garden. Classic flowers like Poppies, roses, and dahlias will start to bloom – and your vegetable garden will transform into a mini feast.
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But, don’t be fooled. Just because your garden has seemingly transformed itself into a floral paradise overnight – it doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do. In fact, British horticulturist Monty Don says June is filled with essential tasks – ranging from weeding vegetable plots to thinning your apple and pear trees.
Writing on his eponymously named blog Montydon.com back in 2024, the gardening ace explained that June is also the best month to prune wisteria. “Wisteria produces its flowers on new growth, which in turn emerges from spurs off the main shoots,” Monty wrote.
“When they have finished flowering – and for most of us that is around the middle of June – is the best time to prune all this year’s new shoots back to a spur leaving no more than about six inches of growth. In the process the whole plant can be tidied, trained and tied in so that there are no loose, trailing shoots.”
If you’re worried about over-pruning your wisteria, Monty recommends erring on the side of caution. Then, in the new year, when the foliage has all died back – you can prune again, reducing each side shoot to just ‘two or three inches’.
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Wisteria can be rather maintenance blooms that typically take three to five years to begin flowering. If growing from seed, it may take two decades before you start spotting colour – but the wait is well worth it.
Pruning twice a year allows better air circulation and more sunlight to reach the base of the young growths. According to experts over at the Royal Horticultural Society, this will encourage ‘better ripening of the wood and improve the chances of flower bud formation’.
“Wisterias can be left to ramble unchecked where space allows, but will usually flower more freely and regularly if pruned twice a year,” they added. If you’re away during the start of summer, and don’t want your Wisteria to start drooping – don’t worry. You can postpone the task until August at the latest.
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