GETTING THE SNIP

Words by Jessica Peace

If you’ve not experienced the intense satisfaction of snipping stems (correctly), my, my are you in for a treat?! Here’s a few things for you to bite your blades into…

DEADHEAD

Deadhead your roses, dahlias and anything else throwing out new buds. Make the cut diagonally above the new ‘top’ leaf that you’re leaving on the plant.

KEEP YOUR STRIPES

Have your ‘variegated’ plants starting chucking out flashy ‘all green’ leaves? Well, if you don’t want it, don’t stand for it. Snip the rebel stem back to the variegated foliage and show’em who's boss - this should stop any more free-thinking behaviour.

GET RID FOR MORE FRUIT AND FLOWER

If your plant is a bit foliage heavy - can’t see the petal for the leaves kinda thing, then hack back that green and let all that energy get back to producing fruit and flower. BOOM.

PUSH OFF PESTS AND STICKY BITS

Hot, humid conditions like Blighty right now are like paradise for pests and diseases. If you catch a stem or two covered in anything crawling, sticky or patchy just lob it off  - but don’t toss it into the neighbour’s garden, unless you’re not a fan.