Hampton Hacking

When you are still finding your green fingers it is easy to fall into despair in July, thinking all those beautiful plants you packed into your borders earlier in the year have now upped and died on you.

The good news is they very probably haven’t.

Many perennials that flower in May and June naturally run out of steam in midsummer, with first the flowers and then the leaves turning brown, giving the appearance the whole plant is dying.

However, it is very likely the root system is still going strong, and your job as the gardener is to cut away the old top growth.

It is known as the Hampton Hack as it takes place around the same time as the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in early July.

Perennials that die back to the ground in winter, such as Nepeta (below), can be cut back hard in July. Those that keep a year-round framework, such as these woody Salvias should be cut by half

Sometimes it is done just for tidiness sake, but often it is to clear the way for new shoots, leaves and flowers that will reinvigorate your borders.

It works because flowers are all about reproduction.

Every perennial's New Year resolution is to make flowers to attract insects which will pollinate them so they can form seed, reproduce and then die down for the rest of the year.

If you cut off the old flowers before they have a chance to set seed, many plants will attempt the whole cycle again, meaning you get to enjoy a second flush of flowers - and so do the pollinators too.

Exact timing for hacking is down to personal preference, but the sooner you clear away tatty old growth the sooner you will get fresh flowers!

How to Hampton Hack

Plants that keep a woody framework, such as Perovskias (Russian sage) and many of the Salvias, should be cut back by about half.

For evergreens - those that keep their leaves all year round - you will be looking to cut out old flower spikes and any unsightly shoots. Evergreen perennials include Euphorbia, Dianthus, Bergenia, Geum and Heuchera.

But for the majority of perennials you are looking for a wholesale clearance down to just a couple of inches, mimicking what the plants do in wintertime.

Geraniums, Nepetas, Campanulas, Delphiniums, Verbascums and Lupins are some of the very many perennials that can benefit from the treatment in July.

• Watch pruning tutorials at www.youtube.com/@katiesgardenplantcentre2533