Monty Don shares four plants that must be pruned now for 'repeat flowering' and 'regrowth'

July isn't often associated with pruning but there are compelling reasons why it's prudent to prune your plants in this month. This point in the year is ideal for restorative pruning. Any over-pruning issues or instances of poor pruning can be conveniently corrected.

Furthermore, assessing the plant's canopy for health and vibrancy is simpler at this stage. You can see exactly what you're removing such as defective branches.

But don't get carried away; aggressive pruning undertaken in summer should be avoided. Large structural pruning should only proceed when the plant has entered its dormant winter phase to avoid pruning-related stress which could result in lost valuable buds.

Offering indispensable advice, gardening whiz Monty Don outlines the correct approach to pruning four specific plants that necessitate it this month, reports the Express.

Early-flowering perennials

According to the gardening guru, early flowering perennials such as oriental poppies, delphiniums, and hardy geraniums should "all be cut back to the ground". This prompts "fresh regrowth and repeat flowering" within a few months.

Moreover, this tactic smoothes the way for tender annuals and perennials to assume their positions in borders. Monty Don advises gardeners to transport all clippings to the compost heap and weed around the base of the plants. Should it be required, water the plants and avoid planting too closely to them.

This provides ample light and space for these plants to regrow and reflower come the end of the summer.

Rambling roses

For keen gardeners maintaining their roses, it's "very important" to continue deadheading as the petals wilt in order to "encourage repeat flowering". Nevertheless, certain types of roses might have completed their annual growth cycle.

The majority of rambling roses fall into this category and "should be pruned as soon as they have finished flowering". If you're uncertain whether your rose is a climber or rambler, typically, "ramblers tend to be much more vigorous and always have a mass of small flowers that never repeat" following completion of their blooming phase.

Apple and Pear Trees.

Now is an ideal time for pruning apple and pear trees, something deemed "very useful" for trained forms or mature trees witnessing overgrowth or crowding.

Unlike winter pruning, which takes place when the tree is dormant, intensive summer pruning "will not stimulate vigorous regrowth".

Unless a new shoot is being specifically trained, all this year's growth should be removed "Remove all this year's growth back to a couple of pairs of leaves (usually about two to four inches) being careful not to remove any ripening fruits."

Trimming back at this time permits brightness and air to access the ripening fruit, while concurrently preventing the trees from becoming too crowded with non-productive branches.

Currant Bushes

Once gooseberries, as well as red and white currants have been harvested, it would be beneficial to give them a "summer prune".

Gardeners are advised to eliminate any new growth that is overcrowding the centre of the bushes and trim back the new shoots they wish to retain by approximately a third. This will allow light and air to penetrate the plant, promoting the ripening of the wood and the formation of spurs which will bear next year's fruits.

Blackcurrants can be pruned aggressively - removing up to a third of each bush - immediately after harvest.