Which plants should be cut down for autumn and winter?

It is starting to get cold again, so you should definitely think about pruning your garden!
You probably have already harvested the vegetables, raked up the leaves and mulched the perennial beds, and are now probably wondering when and how to cut plants that will die back over the colder months.

Plants that is best to cut back hard:

Verbascum

It should be cut back hard to prevent self seeding and to encourage the rosettes of foliage to overwinter.

Hellebores

Black spot disease overwinters on the leaves of lenten roses, infecting new flowers as they emerge, so it is best to cut off the foliage to prevent it, 

Delphiniums

To prevent slugs hiding inside and eating the crowns, you should cut back the hollow stems to the ground , and drop an organic slug pellet down the remains of each stem. The same approach with perennial lobelias and overwintered dahlias.

Plants that is best to cut back partially

Penstemons

You can reduce it by half, leaving some evergreen foliage to protect the crowns while greatly decreasing the danger of wind rock.

Roses

Remove all the old flowering wood from ramblers, and cut back hybrid teas and floribundas by about a third. This will reduce their weight and leave room for new spring growth. 

Chrysanthemums

In general it pays to cut them all back by half after flowering. This will reduce wind rock but still provide greater protection for the overwintering crowns.

Shrubs 

Buddleia grows so much that winter winds can loosen the roots, so cut back by half this month and finish the job in spring. Lavateras and shrubby salvias suffer from the same problem and should also be cut back by half now. Pyracanthas and other berrying shrubs and roses should be left in fruit as they add color and birds love them. 

What about fruit bushes and trees?

Apples 

If you have apple trees in need of renovation or size reduction, it’s better to wait until late winter, when all growth has ceased for the season.

Raspberries

Cut shoots that have fruited this year down to the ground now, making space to tie in the new growth that will carry fruit next season. With autumn-fruiting raspberries, cut stems to the ground.

Blackberries and hybrid berries

Now’s the time to cut out all the shoots that have carried fruit this year. It’s often easier to untie everything, prune out old growth, then tie in the new shoots.

Pruning Cautions

➺Remember to cut perennial grasses and plants in the fall with clean pruning shears or garden scissors. It is important to wait through a few hard freezes, because it causes the plant to go dormant. Cutting plants before they go dormant encourages them to put out new growth, which is then killed by colds.

➺ If your garden is prone to disease and insect pests, you should definitely remove dead plant debris in the fall. Watch for signs of disease in late summer and cut back any infected plants.


Make sure your plants are prepared for the colder months! By following the tips mentioned in this article, you will be able to enjoy a healthy and beautiful garden!