For the garden, however, summer means ripening and stone fruits getting sweeter. 

My mulberries are madly ripening and feeding a huge bird population – but I mustn’t worry about losing fruit because it’s time to think about undertaking a necessary summer pruning schedule.

Summer pruning is just as important as the winter prune. 

It allows plants to regain some space, to have deadwood removed and for you to remove any fungal type problems that may have built up during the heat and humidity we’ve had lately.

Trees that love a summer prune are all of the Prunus species (nectarines, plums, apricots, almonds, peaches and cherries). All you need to do is remove any dead material, any crossovers, cut back vigorous growth and clean out the centre to allow light and air to enter. 

A crossover is two branches rubbing against each other, they can damage each other and allow diseases to enter the plant, they need to be removed.

With your citrus trees be more cautious – just remove dead branches and clean up any crossovers.

Don’t neglect your roses at this time of the year. You need to remove spent flowers regularly – by taking off the dead heads you are allowing your plant to conserve energy. 

In summer, roses need a special prune – all you need do is cut back each branch as if you were cutting stems for a vase. 

Yes, you might sacrifice some young flowers and buds but the new flush of growth that’s produced will bring even more. 

One point I must stress is the need for strict hygiene practices when pruning. 

Clean your equipment regularly, I would advocate a quick clean between each plant pruned – but that might be too much for some to deal with. 

Wipe or spray your equipment with disinfectant and give it a rub with a scour pad, this will remove sap from the previous plant you pruned and hopefully stop the spread of any disease. 

A quick summer prune with clean equipment can make a huge difference to many plants – and it’s easy to do.

The growing Friends of Albury Botanic Gardens would like to thank all those who supported them by supporting their plant sales throughout 2016. They wish to advise their nursery is open for sales, 9.30am to noon, each Tuesday and Thursday. The nursery is situated behind the Curators Cottage at the Albury Botanic Gardens.

If you have an event you would like mentioned in this section email details to ddelahunty@wodongatafe.edu.au.