One of the most important parts of the fall season is pruning. Pruning helps shape your plants, encourages healthy growth and prevents diseases.
Done correctly, it will set your garden up for a spectacular showing the next spring and summer.
Roses
Roses are a classic garden favorite and with proper care, they can provide beautiful blooms year after year. September is the ideal time to prune roses to remove any spent blooms. This will also shape the plant and prepare them for the cooler winter months. Remove any dead or diseased branches at this time as they can harbor pests and diseases over the winter. Trim the remaining branches back about 1/3 cutting just above a healthy bud. Pruning too early in the fall can encourage new growth that is too tender to survive the winter.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are another beloved garden plant that benefits from pruning, but it is essential for you to know what type of hydrangea(s) you have growing. Different varieties require different pruning approaches.
Some hydrangeas that bloom on old wood (mophead hydrangeas) should not be over pruned. Focus on deadheading old flower heads and any dead or weakened stems. Over pruning may mean that you are cutting off some of next years blooms.
Some hydrangeas (panicle) grow on new wood, which means the hydrangea will grow from the ground up every spring with new stems and flowers. This type of hydrangea can be pruned more aggressively in September, cutting the stems back by 1/3. This will encourage strong, healthy growth and will ensure plenty of flowers on display the following season.
When pruning hydrangeas there is an advantage to pruning on a dry day as this will help reduce the risk of possibly spreading disease from one plant to another.
Clematis
Clematis climbing vines are a vibrant addition to any garden, but they do require proper pruning to ensure the following years blooms are plentiful. The timing and method of pruning your clematis will depend on the variety you are growing.
Early flowering varies which bloom on old wood can have a light pruning in September. Focus on removing any spent flowers and any weak or dead stems. This will just be a general tidying up of the plant without compromising next season’s blooms.
Late flowering clematis, which bloom on new wood, can be pruned more heavily. Cutting back the stems by 1/3 in late September will help encourage new growth and keep the plant size regulated. This will also allow the plant to set buds for the next year without stressing it too much.
Peonies
Peonies are well known for their large and fragrant blooms. Keeping them performing to the fullest will require some attention in the fall. Pruning peonies before the end of September will remove dead or diseased foliage and will prepare them for winter dormancy. Once you notice that the foliage on the plant starts to yellow and die back, this is the sign that pruning should soon be done. Cut the stems back to almost ground level and remove any remaining foliage preparing the plant for winter and ensuring it comes back strong in the spring. Make sure to use clean tools as this will help reduce the chance of spreading any disease from plant to plant.
Summary:
Late September is the best time for pruning your garden plants. Pruning too early in the fall can possibly weaken the plants as this will encourage new growth just when the plant is trying to go dormant. The new growth doesn’t have enough time to harden before the first frost and freezing temperatures hit.
If you can wait until all the leaves have fallen, you will allow the trees and shrubs the ability to have better structure and strength to make it through the winter to next spring without any damage. So, put your pruners away for another week or two and let your plants go completely dormant. Once the dormancy has settled in, you can prune trees and shrubs after all the leaves have dropped. This will help to ensure plenty of beautiful strong growth for the following season.