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The Art of Gardening at Sissinghurst
Cutting back pulmonaria
with TROY SCOTT SMITH — Head Gardener at Sissinghurst. Garden Writer, Speaker & Lecturer.
Lesson 34 of 56
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This popular perennial is perfect for shady borders, and Troy’s here to show you how to keep it looking fresher for longer.
From the Lesson Workbook
Essential Spring Jobs
Cutting Back Pulmonaria
This popular perennial is perfect for shady borders, and now in mid-April, it's time to start thinking about a trick to keep it looking fresher for longer.
North-facing borders offer lots of opportunities - many plants enjoy these conditions, such as spring-flowering Pulmonaria 'Diana Clare', a robust and reliable cultivar. You can cut this down in mid to late April. If you do it early enough that there's still moisture in the ground, it will grow fresh new foliage and flowers.
- Cut the whole plant down to ground level with secateurs, shears or a herbaceous sickle. Within a couple of weeks there'll be new leaves, and hopefully new flowers later.
- For a group of plants, stagger the cutting back - e.g. one per week - to avoid large holes.
- If it's very dry, you can give the plant a can of water to help it regrow.
The same technique works for many other plants that flower before midsummer, such as Aquilegia, hardy geraniums and Siberian iris.
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Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
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Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
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Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
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May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Troy Scott Smith
Head Gardener at Sissinghurst. Garden Writer, Speaker & Lecturer.
Troy Scott-Smith, previously head gardener of Iford Manor and Bodnant garden, now oversees the cherished grounds of Sissinghurst - one of the most famous gardens in England and is designated Grade I on Historic England's register of historic parks and gardens. Coming from a family of committed naturalists, Troy is a seasoned horticulturist, writer, designer and consultant, Troy is also a respected member of the RHS Floral Committee. When he set his sights on the head gardener role, he did so with refreshing candour, speaking passionately of the garden’s need for thoughtful evolution. It is a mark of the National Trust’s forward-thinking spirit that they embraced his vision, inviting him to guide this historic landscape into a compelling new chapter.
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