October is a busy month in the pruning calendar, with many plants needing to be cut back to ensure they return next year
Autumn marks a hectic period in the pruning schedule, representing the ideal moment to eliminate aged growth and shape plants properly. Numerous plants that have contributed significantly to creating a stunning summer garden will require pruning to ensure their return next year.
Fruit bushes will gain from being thinned out, whilst perennials ought to be cut right back to ground level. Delicate plants, such as lavender and rosemary, will also gain from being pruned, as they cannot survive a winter prune, which is approaching rapidly.
Climbing 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.
“Start by removing any damaged or crossing growth or any very old wood which can be pruned right back to the ground.
“The main stems should be fanned out at an equidistance as horizontally as possible, tying them to wires or a trellis.
“Then all the side shoots growing from these main stems, which produced this year’s flowers, can be reduced to a short stub or a couple of leaves.”
Finally, gardeners should ensure everything is secured firmly to prevent winter damage.
Pruning climbing roses at this time will allow them to deliver “maximum” blooms, reports Express.
Shrubs
Buddleja davidii is typically pruned severely in spring, but gardeners can reduce it by half now, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
This will help tidy the shrub’s appearance whilst preventing wind rock. Shrubs, including Cornus alba and Lavatera, can also be pruned half now, and again in spring.
Parthenicissus
The specialists at Crocus explained: “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 to keep the plant within bounds, paying particular attention to stems that are encroaching on windows, guttering or roofs.
“Old and neglected plants respond well to severe pruning and can be cut back to plump buds about 1m from the ground at this time of year.”
Rosemary
Rosemary, which is brilliant for cooking, should be trimmed after flowering but before winter arrives.
Snip the plant back using clean secateurs to neaten, deadhead and reshape the plant all in one go. Like lavender, never cut back into old wood, as this can kill the plant.
Fruit trees
Prune fruit trees now to boost their shape and productivity. When trimming them, ensure you remove all dead and diseased timber.
You can also thin out branches to boost air circulation and sunlight penetration, which will help them flourish.
Currant and gooseberry bushes will benefit from being thinned out. Summer-fruiting raspberries can also be trimmed after they’ve produced fruit, by cutting the canes down to ground level.
Deciduous hedges
October marks the final opportunity to clip deciduous hedges to maintain their neat appearance throughout winter, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
They explained: “Once a hedge has reached a height and width you are happy with, maintain it with regular trimming to remove nearly all young growth.
“This is usually carried out once a year on informal hedges, and once, twice or three times a year on formal ones.”
Whilst you may need to postpone pruning to avoid disturbing nesting birds, October presents an ideal time to trim hornbeam, hawthorn and beech hedges.
English lavender
If summer slipped by without giving your lavender a trim, wait until spring if you have delicate varieties such as French, Spanish and Italian.
English lavender can be pruned in October by removing spent flowers and cutting back green, fresh growth to promote a neat shape and prevent woody stems.
However, steer clear of cutting into old, bare wood as lavender doesn’t regenerate from aged wood. All varieties require regular pruning to help them flourish, and it’s nearly impossible to revive a neglected plant once it’s been abandoned for too long.
Japanese maple
Ornamental trees such as acers and sorbus deliver stunning autumn colour as other plants start to fade.
Once the leaves have dropped, ensure you prune these trees whilst they remain dormant, typically between October and November.