Shoot, the online gardening expert, imparts some seasonal advice for What House? readers on what to do in the garden this autumn and winter.
Read about shoot here.
Pic: Campsis tagliabuana, courtesy of Shoot
Things to do in the garden in October
Prune lavender
Lavender plants should be pruned every year to keep them compact and attractive.
Prune flower stalks and prune lightly into the current year’s growth in early autumn. Please make certain that you leave some green growth and never cut into the older, greyer leaves, otherwise the plant will not be able put on new growth.
The best tool for this is hand shears, especially for larger plants. As lavender naturally has quite a rounded shape as it grows, try to cut the plant with gentle curve rather than harsh straight angles for natural looking plants. As lavender does not grow from old wood, you cannot prune too hard.
Burn plants infested with hydrangea scale
There are no effective organic controls for hydrangea scale, other than destroying infested plants and replanting in the autumn.
Cut plants to ground level (optional)
Examples include: Alchemilla mollis, Calamintha grandiflora, Anaphalis triplinervis, Coreopsis verticillata 'Grandiflora', Dictamnus albus var. purpureus
Cut plants to ground level in autumn and in the spring they will put on new growth. Alternatively, leave top growth over winter for interest and to provide wintering sites for wildlife.
Pic: Dictamnus albus var purpureus, courtesy of Shoot
Things to do in the garden in November
Prepare for winter
Get clearing up before the winter hits, as now is the time for formation pruning of many trees and shrubs. If in doubt, contact a tree surgeon to help you.
Rake and remove
Rake up and remove any diseased or infected leaves in the autumn. Leaves may be shredded and composted or burned.
Take hardwood cuttings
Hardwood cuttings are suitable for many deciduous shrubs, and are taken from the current year's growth at or after leaf fall and before new leaves emerge the following spring.
Things to do in the garden in December
Prune clustered, miniature, polyantha and dwarf roses
Examples include: Rosa ‘Sexy Rexy’, Rosa ‘Pretty Polly’, Rosa ‘Frycassia’, Rosa ‘Arthur Bell’, Rosa ‘Cécile Brunner’, Rosa ‘Chinatown’, Rosa ‘Fragrant Delight’
When the rose is dormant (in late winter to early spring) cut back main stems of these to 20-25cm (8-10in) above ground. Cut back stems and sides hoots of dwarf/miniature bushes by one-third to one-half.
Always remove dead, damaged and diseased wood first, and always cut above a healthy outward facing bud with sharp, clean secatures.
Pic: Rosa 'Sexy Rexy', courtesy of Shoot
Prune summer flowering clematis
Examples include: Clematis x durandii, Clematis 'Gillian Blades', Clematis 'Henryi', Clematis 'Lasurstern', Clematis 'Abundance', Clematis 'Alba Luxurians', Clematis 'Rouge Cardinal'
Prune large-flowered cultivars, which generally flower between May and June on short laterals developed on the previous year’s growth. Remove dead and damaged stems in early spring before growth begins, trimming all remaining stems to a pair of strong buds. For renovation, thin shoots in the spring by removing older ones to the base.
Prune campsis
After planting it is a good idea to cut back all the stems to six inches from the ground to stimulate new, healthy growth. Select three of the healthiest stems and remove the rest. These strong stems can then be initially trained against your wall or trellis. Further training depends on which species of campsis you are growing. Campsis grandiflora will always need support, whereas Campsis radicans will self-cling when established with its more vigorous aerial roots.
After 2-3 years of growth, or once the plant has reached the final height you require, spur prune sideshoots annually in late winter to early spring to within two to three buds of the main stems. Remove any weak growth and cut back damaged stems close to the base.
This article was published in October 2007