Four plants that will see a 'second flush' of flowers if pruned before May ends

Pruning plants, flowers and trees helps to encourage flowering for longer as well as promote new growth.

It is crucial to get the time of pruning right, with many plants can be pruned in May that are about to start flowering, or may have stopped sprouting all together. Pruning not only helps to remove dead growth, it also helps to keep their shape and gives them extra energy to produce more flowers., leaves or berries.

If you're confused on what plants do best when pruned in May, below are four that benefit when tended to into the end of spring and towards the start of summer. If you haven't gotten round to pruning your plants, there are still plenty of days left in the month to do so.

However, it's important to remember that May is a prime time for nesting, however, so make sure you are not disturbing any nests before you get the secateurs out.

Read below for the full list, as reported by the Express.

Four plants to prune in May

1. Choisya

Hillier Garden Centre recommended pruning back the stems by 30cm immediately after flowering in spring.

They said this would "encourage a second flush" of flowers later on in the year. If growth is spindly, prune back by up to a third, making sure to check for nests first, delaying if you find one.

2. Hibiscus

Hiller Garden Centre said gardeners should prune back young plants hard in late spring ahead of the new flowering season.

However, established plants will require minimal pruning at this time of year. When pruning hibiscus plants, they should be cut about a third of the way back, leaving at least two to three nodes on the branches for new growth.

3. Clematis

The Royal Horticultural Society advises: "Prune overcrowded, dead or diseased stems of Clematis Montana once it has finished flowering."

"Untangling the stems can be fiddly, but once you see where you are cutting, you need not worry about pruning this plant, it will take even hard cutting back very well."

4. Lavender

Lavender can be pruned at different times of the year, but depending on the variety, May is a great time.

There are a couple of popular varieties of lavender commonly grown in the UK, including English and French. Both will need pruning, but the English variety tends to be more hardy, meaning it can be left outside throughout the year.

Pruning lavender plants will encourage better flowering and ensure they don't become leggy and weak.

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