What to prune in May?

May is the month of blossom and of the nesting season. Leave hedges and shrubs alone if birds are nesting in them, and enjoy the blossom.

In the garden in May

  • Prune lilac and other spring-flowering shrubs after flowering.
  • Pinch back the new shoots (‘candles’) of pines to keep them compact.
  • Water pots and young trees.
  • Let a patch of lawn grow long for flowers and insects.
  • Check for nests in the hedge before you trim it.

In the wild

  • Hawthorn, guelder rose and elder flower white.
  • Horse chestnut and robinia flower in candles and hanging clusters.
  • Wisteria and rhododendron are in full bloom.

Trees and shrubs to prune

Hedges to trim

Pruning guide by plant

For each plant: when and how to prune, how much to remove and what it means for wildlife.

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Laden…