With autumn just weeks away, it’s important to start thinking about pruning certain plants before winter.
There are four plants which need to be pruned in September to promote healthy growth (Image: Getty Images)
Scottish householders are being urged to prune four plants in their gardens this month if they want to promote new healthy growth and potentially a second flowering. Gardeners should remove damaged, dead and diseased branches and stems.
This will encourage better growth and also make plants and shrubs look better during the winter months. And experts are also encouraging green-fingered householders to fertilise their lawns and plant spring-flowering bulbs.
Pruning buddleia, evergreen hedges, and honeysuckle are plants that should be given attention this month, reports The Express.
Buddleia plants(Image: Getty Images)Buddleia
In summer and autumn, gardeners can prune buddleia, also known as the butterfly bush.
Whilst it is best pruned in the spring, it can be given a haircut in the autumn months by removing withered flowers and deadheading.
Deadhead faded flowers back to a pair of strong shoots to help the plant look tidier and encourage “a second flush of flowers”, noted the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
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Evergreen hedges
The RHS said: “Trim fast-growing hedges like leylandii to prepare them for winter. Cut hedges slightly narrower at the top than the bottom to prevent snow damage and shading.”
When the hedge is young, remove about half of the new growth each year until it reaches the desired height.
“Wear gloves, goggles, and possible ear defenders when using powered hedge trimmers. Avoid using powered tools above shoulder height.” If unable to cut safely, make sure to consult a professional.”
Honeysuckle
Prune honeysuckle in mid-to-late summer after it has finished flowering. For early-flowering varieties, you can cut back the flowered shoots by about one-third in late summer.
Make sure to remove diseased, damaged or dead stems. If the plant is overgrown, you can cut it back by about one-third.
Ornamental trees
Trees such as acers and sorbus provide beautiful colour in the garden as flower beds and borders begin to fade at this time of year.
Once the leaves have fallen, gardeners should prune them whilst they are dormant, which often happens in autumn.
Another crucial job that’s better tackled now rather than waiting until spring rolls back around is weeding.
Lawn care expert Chrissie Handley from onlineturf.co.uk previously said: “During winter dormancy, not only does your grass growth slow but weed growth slows too. This means that it’s an ideal time to tackle them so that they’re unable to grow rampantly in spring.
“Moist, loose soil can make it easier to pull weeds out by the root, so this process is best done in milder and wetter winter temperatures, rather than in freezing temperatures. If you make sure you’ve removed the entire root of the weed, this will eradicate them entirely and ensure they won’t grow back.”
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