Monty Don shares three jobs for the weekend – from pruning hydrangeas to potting tomatoes

Gardening expert Monty Don returned for the fourth instalment of the 2022 series of Gardeners’ World. Monty, who is lead host on the programme, said gardeners can be cutting back their epimediums, potting on tomatoes and pruning hydrangeas this weekend. The 66-year-old also shared how to plant potatoes, take cuttings from plants and divide hostas.

Cut back epimediums

Epimediums, which are also known as barrenwort, bishop’s hat, fairy wings and horny goat weed, are pretty plants with delicate flowers.

The plant spreads which makes them excellent for ground cover in shady spots under trees or shrubs.

Monty said the plants are “wonderful for dry shade” but their foliage needs to be cut back now to allow the flowers to thrive.

He explained: “Their foliage does tend to obscure the delicate flowers that are at their best right now.

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However, lacecaps are just as pretty with frilly edges of bright flowers surrounding a flat cap of short flowers.

Monty said both varieties can be pruned now if you’re confident that hard frosts are now over.

He said: “Remove last year’s flowers going back to a strong bud aiming to take off about a quarter of each shoot.

“When you’ve done that, remove any very old or damaged shoots right at the base of the plant and then you can leave them to do their thing.”

Gardeners’ World can be streamed on BBC iPlayer