Even if you think you can do whatever you want in your garden, there are certain rules you should follow when cutting shrubs. In summer, only light trimming and grooming is permitted.
How do I trim shrubs correctly in summer?
When cutting shrubs in summer, you should only carry out light shaping and care pruning to protect breeding birds. Prune preferably on overcast, cooler days and make sure to only prune summer-flowering shrubs after flowering.
These regulations primarily serve to protect garden birds, which nest in many bushes during this time. Cutting them back would disrupt their breeding and, in the worst case, could damage the nest and/or drive away the parent birds. Carry out the annual pruning in autumn, it is better. You can also wait until spring to get a rejuvenating cut.
Which shrubs can I cut in summer?
In summer, mainly summer-flowering shrubs are pruned. This usually happens after flowering. You remove all the wilted flowers and perhaps use this opportunity to give the bush an attractive shape.
On the one hand, this is for the look, because a wilting bush is not particularly attractive, and on the other hand, this cut stimulates many bushes to form new buds and then bloom a second time.
What should I consider when doing a summer cut?
Wait for a day when the sky is slightly cloudy before reaching for the pruning shears (€14.00 on Amazon) to avoid your bushes getting sunburnt. This occurs easily on leaves that were shaded before cutting, but not afterward. It should also not be too hot while cutting as this puts additional stress on the plants being cut.
If you would like to propagate your shrubs, then check your clippings for suitable cuttings. As a rule, these are strong and he althy shoots 10 to 20 centimeters long.
The most important things in brief:
- no radical pruning in summer
- Only light shaping and care cuts allowed
- choose an overcast, rather cool day
- Do not prune flowering shrubs when they are in full bloom
- Cuttings may be used for propagation
Tip
In summer, only carry out the light shaping and care cuts permitted by law. This will help you protect breeding birds in your garden.
