Autumn

State of growth

Shoot tips stop growing and become firm. Welldefined buds form at the base of leaf stalks. The stems of shrubs, fruit bushes and trees become tough and woody. Some plants may produce soft growth during spells of warm weather, which is prone to frost damage.

Why prune in autumn?

To remove damaged stems and those liable to damage by windy weather, and to reduce the weight of summer growth where required.

What to prune

Summer fruit: blackcurrants, summer raspberries, blackberries and hybrid cane fruit. Damaged, rubbing branches: broken and closely placed or crossing branches. Diseased stems: remove infected stems that could reinfect the following year’s growth. Bush and shrub roses: cut back tall stems by about a third, so plants are less susceptible to wind-rock during gales. Climbers: to reduce the chances of them blowing down in winter.