Five plants gardeners must prune now for 'vigorous' blooms in summer (2025)

Gardeners are being urged to head outside and tend to their plants this month

With the glorious weather we are experiencing across the UK at the moment, there is no time like the present to get out in your garden and tackle those spring gardening jobs.

April is a time where gardens become full of new life, with milder temperatures and sunnier days creating the perfect conditions for your outdoor spaces to thrive.

There are certain jobs that are essential to get done in April, so that your plants, flowers and lawns can flourish in time for summer. Experts at Hedges Direct are advising gardeners to prune five plants this month to ensure 'vigorous' blooms come summer.

Pruning plants involves the selective removal of as branches, buds, leaves, or roots to improve their health, growth and appearance, as well as encouraging new growth.

Whilst the gardening expert says that most 'deciduous' shrubs should have been pruned by now, as their dormant periods will be over, they emphasise that April is the best time to tackle certain plants.

"April is the best time to give many evergreen shrubs and flowering hedges a harder prune," the expert says. "However, as a general rule, check if there are any nesting birds before you do as they cannot be disturbed."

Here are some plants to tend to in April:

Rose shrubs

"Most rose shrubs should be cut back ahead of growing season, but if it’s still cool in March, this could be as late as early April," they advise.

"It’s important to wait until the last frost date has passed before tending to roses to prevent cold damage to freshly cut branches, however, try to get to them before new blooms appear. This will make it easier for you to spot damaged or dead branches easily."

Hydrangea

It’s best to prune common hydrangeas in early spring to encourage more vigorous blooms later in summer.

"If you’ve left the flower heads intact over winter, these can be deadheaded down to the younger buds in April," an expert at Hedges Direct says.

This form of light pruning is usually best for newly planted or unestablished hydrangeas and also the following species:

• Hydrangea macrophylla
• Hydrangea aspera
• Hydrangea serrata
• Hydrangea quercifolia

"Other types, like Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens, can tolerate a stronger prune," the expert adds.

"Deadhead last year’s flower heads and trim the old stems by a third to a quarter or down to where the stems are healthy. Healthy stems should be firm to touch, thick, and vibrant green.

"This will help to remove any overcrowded branches so the plant can focus on areas of new growth instead. Wait to prune climbing hydrangeas in summer once they have flowered."

Lavender

Lavender is known to be low maintenance and easy to grow, but left unchecked, it can become "leggy and unruly."

The gardening expert says: "As lavender shrubs can survive without feeding and are hardy against frost, many gardeners trim them at the end of summer to remove the flowers after they bloom.

"However, others prefer to skip a late-summer trim as the fading blooms can still be enjoyed. It also gives the plant extra protection against winter damage in frost-prone areas, such as eastern and southern parts of the UK.

"If you didn’t cut them back then, April is the best time to trim lavender.

"Deadhead old flowers and cut back to just above the lowest new bud on each stem. Avoid cutting into older, woody branches as they can struggle slightly with new growth."

Rosemary

Rosemary should be pruned in mid to late spring, but it can be cut back through summer too.

"Just like lavender, rosemary can become overgrown and leggy. After it’s finished flowering, trim it back to encourage more substantial growth and steer clear of cutting into any woody stems," the expert says.

Dogwood

Dogwood, or Cornus, should be pruned in late March or April for a vibrant winter display.

"Cornus gets its colours from new growth, so cutting it back hard is best if you want to get the most out of it," says the gardening expert.

"It’s a sturdy hedge plant and will thrive even after a severe pruning. Before new buds appear, cut stems back by a third and try to keep them 5-20 cm above the soil.

"This might sound like a lot, but dogwood is known for its quick growth so rest assured that a harsh prune will reward you with stronger and brighter stems."