The pruning of the climbing plants, that adorn some of the walls and railings in the gardens, began this week with the large, old Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine) located on the terrace of the main quadrangle. Climbing up the imposing facade of the 18th century building, the long woody stems, that bore the rather exotic looking clusters of trumpet shaped red flowers in the summer, need to be pruned.
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| This Year's Growth |
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| Pruned Back To Two To Four Buds |
These wooden stems, the growth of this year, are pruned back hard to two to four buds at the base of that growth. Weak, damaged and dead wood is also removed. Flowers are produced on the tips of next year's growth which is produced in response to this pruning.
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| Long Reach Pruner |
Due to the height of the Campsis the stems that are high up, and can not be reached safely from the large tripod ladder, are pruned using the long reach pruner rather than secateurs.
This Campsis has now been pruned but this is just the beginning. There are many more climbing plants in the gardens and gardeners up ladders, with long reach pruners and secateurs in their hands, will be a regular sight in the college over the coming months.
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| The Pruned Campsis radicans |
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