As summer heatwaves come to an end, gardeners are being urged to avoid full-scale cutting back in September. Jo McGarry, luxury garden design expert at Caragh Nurseries, advises against tidying up faded flowers and overgrown plants too early.
"September is when a lot of people start wanting to tidy everything up, but I would definitely hold back on some plants," McGarry said. "A garden does not need to look completely bare going into autumn. Leaving certain plants standing can actually make it look more interesting, as well as giving wildlife somewhere to shelter."
Hydrangeas and Lavender
McGarry highlights hydrangeas, especially mophead and lacecap varieties, as plants that should be left alone once September arrives. "Those faded hydrangea flowers can look really lovely as they dry out and change colour," she said. "They can add a bit of interest to the garden through autumn and winter, so I would leave them where they are and tidy them up when spring comes around."
For lavender, McGarry recommends a light trim but warns against heavy pruning. "Once it starts getting really woody, cutting too far back can cause problems. A quick trim is fine, but I would leave any bigger pruning job until the right time," she added.
Ornamental Grasses, Sedum, and Echinacea
Ornamental grasses that look wild after summer can be left uncut, as they can look stunning through the colder months and give the garden shape when many other plants have died back.
Sedum is another plant that does not need immediate cutting back. "Sedum can actually look really nice as it dries out," McGarry said. "The flowers change colour and the seed heads give the garden a bit of interest through the colder months. I would much rather leave it there than cut everything right back."
Echinacea plants may not look as vibrant as in spring and summer, but McGarry advises against cutting them back in autumn. "Echinacea can look really nice even once the flowers have gone. The seed heads add a bit of shape to the garden and can provide food for birds, so I would leave them standing rather than rushing to cut them back," she said.
