What to prune in autumn?

Description

DISCOVER THE PLANTS THAT SHOULD BE PRUNED IN AUTUMN…

In the pruning calendar, autumn is a busy season. The perfect time to remove old growth and reshape plants ready for the seasons ahead. Many plants that have been so colourful in the garden need a tidy up, stems need cutting back and pruning of many plants prevents fungal disease from setting in before winter. Fruit bushes, such as gooseberries and currants benefit from thinning out, while perennials that lack decorative seed heads should be cut back to the ground. Autumn is also the right time to prune sensitive plants such as rosemary and lavender, that simply won’t withstand pruning in winter.

Secateurs, loppers, folding pruning saws and pruning handsaws will enable you to tackle a wide variety of jobs.

REMEMBER THOUGH… Not all plants are suitable for autumn pruning. Some plants should be pruned in winter, while others are best left until spring or summer. Check out our ‘what to prune in’ guides for other seasons.

Perennials

Herbaceous perennials in your borders often tall and messy by autumn, can have their dead flower stems removed along with foliage if necessary to tidy things up before winter. You can leave perennials in place for wildlife, especially if they have attractive seedheads. However, untidy perennials that lack decorative seedheads can be cut back, such as delphiniums and peonies.

Soft & Bush Fruit

Thin out blackcurrants, gooseberries, redcurrants and other soft fruit bushes, by pruning out the fruited stems. For redcurrants, cut the current season’s growth to a pair of buds from the base. Prune summer fruiting raspberries after they have fruited, by cutting the canes to the ground. If you haven’t pruned out the old stems of summer-fruiting raspberries, you can do that now as well, tying in the new canes for next year’s crop.

Hedges

Tough, hardy yew hedges can tolerate later pruning than most other hedging plants. If you want to clip your hedge only once a year, then do it in early autumn, as its outline will stay crisp all winter.

Meditterranean Shrubs

Sun-loving shrubs that will not tolerate hard pruning in winter are best to tackle in autumn. Mediterranean shrubs like rosemary, lavender and cistus should be cut back after flowering but before winter. Prune the plants back using secateurs, to tidy, deadhead and reshape. Never cut back into old wood, as this can kill the plants. Leave tender French lavender until spring.

Ornamental Trees

Trees such as acers provide beautiful autumn colour as the borders begin to fade. Once the leaves have fallen prune ornamental trees while dormant, during autumn and early winter.

 

This guide is intended to give information and advice only. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure necessary training and experience is achieved to use a pair of secateurs and pruning tools safely.