October is a busy month in the gardening calendar, offering a prime window to prune a range of plants and shrubs so they bloom again next year. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) notes that gardeners should cut back deciduous hedges and prune roses this month. Tender plants such as lavender and rosemary also benefit from a trim, but they should not be pruned during winter.
Climbing and rambling roses
Gardening expert Monty Don wrote in an October blog post: "Prune climbing roses. Climbing roses flower on shoots grown in the same spring, so they can be pruned hard now." He advises removing damaged or crossing growth and any very old wood, cutting it back to the ground. The main stems should be fanned out horizontally and tied to wires or a trellis.
Side shoots that produced this year's flowers can be reduced to a short stub or a couple of leaves. Secure everything firmly to prevent winter damage. Pruning climbing roses now will allow them to deliver "maximum" flowers. Gardeners can also cut back rambling roses.
Shrubs and climbers
Buddleja davidii is usually pruned hard in spring, but the RHS advises trimming it back by half now to tidy its appearance and reduce the risk of wind rock. Other shrubs, including Cornus alba and Lavatera, can be cut back by half now and again in spring, but avoid over-pruning as this may make them unstable.
Experts at Crocus advised: "Boston ivy and Virginia creeper will need new shoots tying into their supports for the first couple of growing seasons after planting." Once established, prune anytime from now until Christmas, focusing on stems encroaching on windows, gutters or roofs. Old, neglected plants can be cut back to plump buds about 1m from the ground.
Lavender, maples and hedges
French, Spanish and Italian lavender should wait until spring, but English lavender can be pruned now. Remove spent flowerheads and trim fresh green growth to keep a neat shape and prevent woody stems. Avoid cutting into old, bare wood, as lavender cannot regenerate from it.
Ornamental trees such as acers and sorbus should be pruned between October and November once the leaves have dropped. October is the "last chance" to trim deciduous hedges, according to the RHS, which recommends regular trimming to remove nearly all young growth. This is done once a year on informal hedges, and once, twice or three times a year on formal ones. Hornbeam, hawthorn and beech hedges are ideal candidates this month.
Fruit trees
Prune fruit trees now to improve their structure and productivity, removing all dead and diseased wood. Thin out branches to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration, supporting healthy growth.
Plants to prune in October: climbing roses, rambling roses, Buddleja davidii, Cornus alba, Lavatera, Boston ivy, Virginia creeper, English lavender, Japanese maple, hornbeam, hawthorn, beech hedges and fruit trees.
