Ideal Pruning Cherry Trees Season in the UK
Leading horticultural bodies such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommend that most pruning should be carried out between mid-July and the end of August, once harvesting has finished.
The ideal window for plum tree pruning in the UK is:
Young plum trees (formative pruning): Mid to late summer (July–August)
Established plum trees (maintenance pruning): Summer, after fruiting but before leaf fall
Avoid winter pruning — cold, damp conditions increase disease risk
For most UK gardeners, late summer pruning is the key to long-lived, healthy lavender. A light spring tidy can help in colder areas, but the golden rule is never to cut into old wood. With proper care, your lavender will reward you with fragrant blooms and buzzing pollinators for many years.
Late winter to early spring, typically November to early March, is the optimal period to prune apple trees in the UK while they are dormant and leafless.