GARDENING expect Monty Don has revealed the tricks of the trade when it comes to keeping your plants and flowers blooming beautiful.
Monty, who is best known for his presenter role on Gardeners’ World, shares tips for gardening and houseplants.
In his latest blog post for January, the presenter talks about how to avoid damage during the winter pruning of fruit trees.
Monty says: “This is always my big January job and if nothing else this is something I like to have finished by the end of the month.”
Adding: “Try to understand how something grows before pruning. Does it flower on new or old wood? Does a fruit tree need to achieve a certain maturity to create spurs that bear fruit or will they be produced in the first year of growth?”
The gardener explained that when it comes to apple and pear trees, the trick is to get as much light in as possible.
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“The idea is to produce a tree that has plenty of light and air reaching the centre. I do this by imagining a pigeon flying straight at the tree and pruning it so it can fly right through it from any angle” said Monty.
Adding: “Start by removing any crossing or rubbing branches. Cut back any overlong or straggly branches to a bud to promote vigorous multi-stemmed regrowth.”
While you are doing this, the gardener explains that it is important to keep pausing, stepping back and reviewing your progress.
He also advises using very sharp secateurs, loppers and saws to avoid putting strain on the tree or plant and causing damage to it – or yourself.
When pruning trained fruit such as cordons, espaliers, and fans, he says you must be counterintuitive as the harder your cut, the stronger the regrowth.
For soft fruit, the gardener explains that with raspberries you should remove all of last years canes, and cut away all inward growth with gooseberries and redcurrants.
Monty is also a fan of using these cuttings to make new plants.
“I always take a few cuttings from the pruned material of Gooseberries and redcurrants because they strike very easily and it means I can constantly add new, vigorous plants to replace the older ones,” he said.
Try to understand how something grows before pruning. Does it flower on new or old wood? Does a fruit tree need to achieve a certain maturity to create spurs that bear fruit or will they be produced in the first year of growth?”
Monty Don
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