Autumnal Pruning and Trimming
In the heart of autumn, as the leaves begin to fall and the days grow shorter, it's time to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter. This period is perfect for pruning deciduous trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials.
Prominent German gardeners, such as Anna Giese and Guido SchΓ€fer, who practice autumn pruning and offer online guidance, share their tips through TV shows and their websites. However, this article does not focus on specific plants or trees to prune, but rather provides a general guide.
The author prunes all deciduous, ornamental trees and shrubs, removing thin, weak growth, broken or crossing branches, and cutting back to healthy buds or main branches. This process is essential for maintaining the health and aesthetics of the plants.
When it comes to herbaceous perennials that flowered in spring or early summer, the author recommends cutting them back. This action will make them look tidier and clear the way for new growth early next spring. It's also worth noting that leaving late-summer flowering plants untouched provides something to look at during winter, especially when spangled with frost or snow. The author enjoys watching the stems and faded flowerheads of these plants gradually bleach of all their colour through the winter.
For bush roses, the author suggests pruning by cutting stems back to about half their height in autumn. This practice helps prevent wind damage and insulates the plants from cold weather. For currant and gooseberry bushes, the author recommends cutting out three or four of the oldest fruited stems, leaving strong, upright stems for future fruit production.
It's important to keep your secateurs and loppers clean and sharp for effective pruning. This not only ensures a clean cut but also helps prevent the spread of disease.
While this article does not discuss the benefits of pruning fruit bushes for wildlife, it's worth noting that autumn pruning can provide shelter and a place for overwintering eggs of insects. However, the specific types of wildlife that can benefit from autumn pruning are not detailed in this guide.
The author advises leaving as much of the garden untouched during autumn to provide a winter habitat for wildlife. This approach creates a balance between maintaining a well-kept garden and respecting the natural environment.
