5 plants to prune in May for healthy blooms and foliage

Although May is a time when everything starts to bloom, it’s also when we need to be a little harsh and cut some varieties back that have already or are currently flowering.

It can seem counter-intuitive because cutting back plants in winter is more considered, but often giving some a little attention now will help their shape and growth for the future.

‘There’s a narrow window after spring, when flowering shrubs finish, that most gardeners miss, and May is a great time to prune the following plants,’ advises Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres.