What is Cutting Hedge?

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When should I prune my roses in London?

Bush and shrub roses are pruned in late February to early March, once the worst frost has passed but before growth starts. Climbers are pruned after their first flush of flowers; ramblers, which flower once, are pruned immediately after flowering in late summer.

Can I prune a cherry or plum tree in winter?

No — stone fruit (cherry, plum, apricot) should be pruned in late spring or summer to avoid silver leaf disease, which enters through winter cuts. Apples and pears are the winter-pruned fruit.

What happens if I prune a spring-flowering shrub in winter?

You'll cut off the flower buds and lose the spring display. Shrubs that flower on last year's wood — forsythia, philadelphus, ribes — are pruned immediately after they flower, not in winter.

A simple pruning calendar for London gardens | Cutting Hedge Garden Advice

The one rule that stops most pruning mistakes

Prune spring-flowering shrubs after they flower, and summer-flowering shrubs in late winter. That single rule prevents the most common mistake — cutting the buds off a shrub that flowers on the previous year's growth. Everything else in this calendar is a refinement of it.

Winter (Dec-Feb): the dormant prune

•Apples and pears — structural and renewal pruning while leafless.
•Bush and shrub roses — late Feb/early March, before growth breaks.
•Deciduous hedges — a light reshape while there are no nesting birds.
•Vines, wisteria — winter spur prune to control growth.
•Avoid: any stone fruit (cherry, plum) and any spring-flowering shrub.

Spring (Mar-May): the after-flowering prune

•Forsythia, ribes, philadelphus, weigela — cut back flowered stems to a strong new shoot as soon as the display ends.
•Hydrangeas — remove dead flower heads to a strong bud once frost risk passes.
•Evergreen hedges — first clip of the season, watch for nesting birds (legally protected).
•Late-flowering clematis — hard prune Group 3 types to a low pair of buds.

Summer (Jun-Aug): fruit, trained forms and tidying

•Stone fruit (cherry, plum, apricot) — prune now to avoid silver leaf disease.
•Rambling roses — prune immediately after flowering.
•Wisteria — summer spur prune the long whippy growth back to 5-6 leaves.
•Privet, box and other fast hedges — keep trimmed to avoid losing the shape.

Autumn (Sep-Nov): light work and preparation

•Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches while the canopy is still visible.
•Tidy perennials — but leave seed heads for winter interest and wildlife.
•Don't prune tender shrubs now — leave top growth to protect against frost.
•Late clematis in Group 3 can be left until February if you prefer.

A note on nesting birds

All wild birds and their active nests are legally protected in the UK. From March through August, check a hedge or shrub for nesting activity before you cut — if a bird is nesting, leave the work until the young have fledged. Our maintenance teams always do this check before a seasonal trim.

A simple pruning calendar for London gardens