The 'essential' garden plants you must prune now for 'second bloom' this summer

There's nothing better than a garden in full bloom, but according to one expert, you can prolong the lifespan of flowers to last all summer.

Nadezhda Yaneva, a gardening and plant expert at Fantastic Gardeners, has shed light on the benefits of pruning key plants after flowering to promote fresh growth and blossom. Plants earmarked for snipping this June encompass lilacs, forsythias, azaleas, plus fruit bearers and berry shrubs.

From fruit trees to climbers and lilacs, here's all the plants you should prune now to ensure a long-lasting bloom.

1. Lilacs

Speaking to the Express, the expert said: "Remove spent flower heads and prune them for shape. For forsythias, you need to cut back the oldest stems to the base to encourage new growth."

"For azaleas, you need to prune lightly to shape the plant and remove dead or crossing branches."

2. Early summer bloomers

The horticulturalist highlights how early summer flowering species like roses and wisterias can greatly profit from June pruning.

Yaneva advised for roses, it's crucial to deadhead wilted blossoms to boost more blooming and to purge any wood thats dead, damaged or diseased.

As for wisteria, she recommends curtailing the lengthy side shoots back to five or six leaves, aiming to spur flowers and manage sprawl.

3. Fruit trees and shrubs

When it comes to fruit trees, including apple and pear variants, pruning is integral for regulating size and bolstering fruit-set, noted the expert.

Yaneva remarked: "For apple and pear trees, thin out fruit to prevent branches from becoming too heavy. You can also do light pruning to remove any crossing or congested branches."

4. Herbaceous perennials

Yaneva concluded by advising that cutting back some herbaceous perennials can stimulate a second bloom and contribute to a well-kept garden.

"For geraniums and delphiniums, after the first flush of flowers, cut back to encourage a second bloom."

"For lupins, you can remove spent flower spikes to encourage further blooming."

5. Climbing plants

To keep climbers in check, pruning before the end of June is crucial, according to the plant expert.

For early to mid-season bloomers, prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth.

The pro noted: "Light pruning of evergreens like boxwood and yew helps maintain their shape."

"Trim lightly of evergreens like boxwood and yew to maintain desired shapes and remove any dead or diseased branches."