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The Art of Gardening at Sissinghurst
How to prune a tender shrub
with TROY SCOTT SMITH — Head Gardener at Sissinghurst. Garden Writer, Speaker & Lecturer.
Lesson 31 of 56
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We move on to look at the slightly different approaches needed for some less hardy shrubs, including hibiscus, wisteria, figs and Indigofera.
From the Lesson Workbook
How to Prune a Tender Shrub
Moving on to some of the less hardy shrubs in the White Garden, let's look at the slightly different approach needed for these.
Hibiscus is very easy - prune this year's growth down to a bud or two above last year's growth (marked by a change in colour and hardness), so it just gets taller by a bud or two each year.
- The new growth can be slightly tender, so we leave pruning until April to reduce the risk of frost damage.
- If you want a taller shrub, you can leave some shoots unpruned.
The same principles apply to:
- Wisteria, which we prune in February down to a couple of buds.
- Figs, for which we delay pruning until 1st April.
- Indigofera, which we also leave until April.
Plant Directory
Ficus carica and its cultivars
Figs
Hardy deciduous shrub
Moraceae
Hibiscus syriacus cultivars
Rose of Sharon
Hardy deciduous shrub
Malvaceae
Indigofera pendula
Weeping indigo
Hardy deciduous shrub
Fabaceae
Wisteria species and cultivars
Wisteria
Hardy deciduous climbers
Fabaceae
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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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