Prune for shape and growth
May is the month to prune the less hardy shrubs and plants in your garden. If they’ve survived the worst of the cold, their buds should be breaking by now, and cutting the plant back will tidy the shape and encourage vigorous growth. The action of cutting back shrubs removes the top growth of branches and stems that provides protection from the penetrating effects of frost. While the hardiest plants are tough enough to be pruned in winter and early spring, halfhardy and tender plants are best left until temperatures reliably stay above freezing overnight. This will vary depending on where in the UK you garden: the milder south and west are usually frost free by early May; the east and north by the end of the month. And your location will also dictate which plants are reliably hardy: in the north-east, pittosporum and escallonia, for example, are best pruned now – a month or so later than in the south-west where the weather is much milder. Half-hardy and tender shrubs are capable of very rapid growth when conditions are suitable in late spring and summer, so it is important to cut back quite hard to prevent them becoming top heavy, and to ensure that any flowers are held lower down on the plant where they can be enjoyed. Many of these plants are also suitable for training on a sheltered south or south-west facing wall, so take the opportunity to tie them into trellis or training wires at the same time as you prune them.