vegetable gardening – Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society

Pat’s 10 jobs for March 2026

1. Time to cut back Buddleja davidii hard… don’t be timid, take it right back to 40cm to a pair of buds. If you want a taller plant make the cuts higher up the stem. It will grow back in no time. The prunings make good hardwood cuttings and root easily straight in the ground.

Buddleja davidii in need of a hard prune — *Buddlejas* before and after a hard prune (not the same plant!)

Buddleja davidii after a fairly hard prune - already developing new shoots! — *Buddlejas* before and after a hard prune (not the same plant!)

2. You can pot up Dahlia tubers now by placing in pots or trays of peat-free compost in a frost-free place, and water once with no need to water again until shoots appear. Make sure the tubers are firm with no sign of rot.

Pat’s 10 jobs for February 2026

1. It’s time to prune your Group 3 Clematis (the Viticella and Jackmanii type) to tackle tangled growth at the base so they can grow away strongly. Take all growth back hard to about 6 to 12 inches above the ground, cutting above a leaf joint. Then give them a feed and a mulch. It seems drastic but they respond well and will grow quickly. If it’s a fairly new plant check around the base for slugs which can quickly eat any weak new growth.

Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning' before February pruning — *Clematis viticella* ‘Betty Corning’ before and after a hard prune

Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning' after February pruning — *Clematis viticella* ‘Betty Corning’ before and after a hard prune

2. Cut back all spent foliage on grasses making sure not to snip emerging shoots. And look out for any seedlings to pot up for our plant sales table if you don’t want them!