By August, the vigorous growth of most trees and shrubs has slowed and their stems have ripened toform wood. Sometimes, there'll be a second flush of soft growth, though not usually in a dry summer. Pruning at this time of year helps a plant by reducing its overall surface area and taking off soft, drought-prone growth that can wilt in prolonged periods of hot weather. There is still plenty of seasonal pruning to do, such as continuing with summer shrub pruning that began earlier in the season, but really severe restoration pruning should be avoided in very dry conditions. Plants may struggle to recover if there's only limitedmoisture in the soil and the air temperatures are high. Now is also the start of one of the busiest times in the pruning calendar as, up and down the country, hedge trimmers are clattering and ladders wobbling. It's the season when the nation's green boundaries and shrubs come under the knife - or blades - of trimmers, shears and secateurs.
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