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Autumn/winter tips
Any top heavy shrubs and perennials can be reduced in height by about a third at this time of year to reduce the chance of damage by winter snows. Make sure newly planted trees and taller shrubs are well staked and tied to avoid damaging new roots.
If you have any Acers (Japanese Maples) the wispy growth can be trimmed back in early autumn. We do not advise cutting into the thicker stems.
Clematis and climbing plants can be trimmed back to tidy in autumn. The main pruning time for Clematis being late February (depending on group type).
Clematis Group 1
Winter flowers - Alpinas, Macropetala, Armandii varieties and all the Montanas - do not prune now you will be cutting of flowering wood.
Group 2
Large flowering type that flower before the end of June. These should be pruned back to a pair of good strong looking buds on each stem normally you should end up with a good network of stems between 5 and 6 feet tall.
If you have a group 2 clematis that is thin and spindly cut the whole plant down to about 9”-12” as this with thicken the plant up.
Group 3
Plants that flower after the end of June. These include some of the larger flowering types - Tanquiticas, Viticellas, Texensis, all the herbaceous types. Cut the whole plant down to 12 inches don’t be afraid it will be back looking better than ever.
One other tip is always apply slug pellets around the plants after pruning (there are pet and wildlife friendly pellets available now). We have used them for some years now and are very effective.
If you are still unsure about pruning or what group your plants fall into just send and email or phone and I’ll try to help.
Happy Gardening
Adrian
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