Monty Don Names 1 Garden Job to Do Right Now to Avoid Damage to Your Green Space

Published by Staff Writer on February 27, 2026 February 27, 2026

Monty Don has revealed the gardening task he makes sure to tackle at this time of year to keep his garden growing strongly as the seasons shift.

The much-loved horticulturist, broadcaster and author is best known as the long-running lead presenter of the BBC’s Gardeners’ World, and he regularly shares practical, timing-based advice for gardeners who want to avoid common seasonal mistakes.

And if there’s one theme Don comes back to again and again, it’s this: in gardening, when you do a job can matter just as much as how you do it.

Keen gardeners will know that treating, mowing, or pruning at the wrong moment—especially during deep cold—can cause unnecessary damage, slow growth, and affect how your garden looks for the rest of the year.

Don’s warning about doing winter jobs too soon

Don has previously spoken about the temptation to get ahead of the season—particularly when it comes to lawns—and why that can backfire.

On his blog, he warned: “Cutting too early during the colder months can damage your lawn, as grass doesn’t thrive in low temperatures.” He added that patience usually pays off, noting: “By mid-March, the weather in most parts of the UK has warmed enough to make mowing beneficial.”

It’s advice rooted in a simple idea: let plants—and the weather—give you the green light before you jump in.

The task he’s focused on now: pruning lime trees

Most recently, Don has turned his attention to lime trees, a plant where timing is especially important if you want strong regrowth and a healthy shape.In a recent Instagram update, Don, 70, shared a photo of two neat lines of lime trees bordering a stone pathway in his garden. The trees looked bare, but he made it clear that the “before” stage doesn’t last long once the pruning is done.

In his caption, he explained: “The limes have now had their annual cut and it won’t be long before the pruned knuckles will sprout new, leafy growth.”

That “annual cut” is the key job he’s flagging for this point in the calendar—a structured, yearly prune that sets the trees up to push out fresh growth as spring arrives.

Why early-to-mid spring matters for lime trees

Pruning lime trees is generally best done once a year in early to mid-spring, ideally before flowering, when the worst of winter is behind you.

The logic is straightforward: by waiting until frost risk is mostly past, you reduce the chance of pruning into wood that’s been weakened by cold snaps. Done at the right moment, this annual trim can help:

• maintain the tree’s overall health

• control size and shape

• encourage strong new growth

• support fruit production

Don’s photo also hints at why gardeners love limes in particular: even when they look stripped back, the structure remains attractive—and the payoff comes quickly once the buds wake up.

How often to prune established vs younger trees

Not every lime tree needs the same level of attention.

As a general rule, established, mature trees can often be pruned every one to three years, mainly to tidy up issues like:

• dead wood

• crossing or rubbing branches

• suckers

Meanwhile, younger trees may benefit from lighter, more regular shaping so they develop a balanced form without being stressed by heavy cuts.

Fans loved the glimpse of Don’s garden

In the comments under Don’s post, followers were quick to react—especially those who remembered how lush the same walkway looks later in the year.

One person wrote: “Just thinking about the lovely photos you’ve shown of the limes in summer and the wonderful ferns, just looks amazing.” Another added: “Very beautiful walking path with in lush green in spring and the winter look is also so good.”

Other replies were simple but enthusiastic, including: “Looking good already,” “Very pretty,” and “So beautiful!”

A long career built on practical gardening advice

Don’s gardening career on television stretches back decades. He began his TV work in 1989 with a recurring gardening slot on This Morning, which helped open doors to further presenting work across different channels.

He’s also a prolific author, having written more than 25 books since his first publication in 1990.

In 2003, following a recommendation from Alan Titchmarsh, Don took over as the main presenter of Gardeners’ World—a role that cemented him as one of the UK’s most recognisable gardening voices.

Alongside the BBC series, he has also written and produced a range of garden programmes of his own, including 2026’s Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens.

The takeaway for gardeners

Don’s message is consistent: don’t rush seasonal jobs—do them at the moment they’ll actually help.

For lawns, that means holding off when winter is still biting. For lime trees, it means getting that early-spring prunedone so the tree can respond with fresh, healthy growth as the garden heads into its busiest season.