As autumn approaches, gardening expert Monty Don has highlighted eight plants that should be pruned now to ensure they are ready for the colder months. In a recent blog post, Don emphasised that many plants which thrived over summer need attention to guarantee a strong return next year.
Don advises pruning climbing roses hard now, removing damaged or crossing growth and old wood. The main stems should be fanned out horizontally and tied to supports, with side shoots reduced to a short stub or a couple of leaves. This technique encourages maximum blooms next season.
Buddleja davidii can be reduced by half now to tidy its appearance and prevent wind rock, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Similarly, shrubs like Cornus alba and Lavatera benefit from a half prune now, with a second prune in spring. Boston ivy and Virginia creeper should be pruned from now until Christmas to keep them in bounds, especially near windows and roofs.
Rosemary should be trimmed after flowering but before winter, using clean secateurs to neaten and reshape. Avoid cutting into old wood, as this can kill the plant. Fruit trees also need pruning now to improve shape and productivity; remove dead and diseased timber and thin branches for better air circulation and sunlight.
Currant and gooseberry bushes benefit from thinning, while summer-fruiting raspberries should have canes cut to ground level after fruiting. October is the last chance to clip deciduous hedges like hornbeam, hawthorn, and beech, maintaining their neat appearance through winter.
For lavender, English varieties can be pruned in October by removing spent flowers and cutting back green growth, but avoid old wood. Tender varieties like French, Spanish, and Italian should be left until spring. Ornamental trees such as acers and sorbus should be pruned while dormant, between October and November, after leaves have dropped.
