January is usually thought of as the time for pruning as many plants are dormant, making it easier to do. Pruning in the winter is about cutting back and reshaping certain plants to promote strong, healthy growth and lots of fruit and flowers. Pruning at this time can also help stop diseases spreading and some plants losing sap.
This month, there are three main plants that need pruning, according to gardening experts Sarah Raven and Michael Parry, also known as Mr Plant Geek. 1. Grape vines. Michael thinks it's a "good idea" to prune grapevines while they're dormant. When the weather gets warmer, the sap will start rising, and there's a risk of "bad bleeding" if they're cut.
How gardeners prune them depends on the system they're using, but they usually produce fruit on the side shoots that grew last year. By limiting growth and the number of shoots, gardeners should get a "better quality" crop, reports the Express. 2. Wisteria.
Pruning wisteria can be tricky, and even experienced gardeners can be unsure. It flowers on the shorter side shoots, so the main job in winter is to remove any "long, whippy growth" left over from the summer. Sarah agreed that wisteria needs to be pruned now, saying: "Once wisteria become established, they can romp away if not kept in check." She advises pruning them in two stages, first shortening shoots to two or three buds along lateral stems at this time of year, and then shortening the "long whippy growth" in summer. Sarah claims: "This way, you'll contain the plant and get fantastic flowering.".
