Why to cut back in autumn
We cut back to reduce rot and to make spring jobs easier. Removing dead annual foliage and spent herbaceous growth prevents pests and diseases from overwintering. At the same time, we often leave a few seedheads for birds and invertebrates. Striking that balance means the garden looks cared-for while still supporting wildlife over the cold winter months.
What to cut now and what to leave
You can cut back herbaceous perennials such as hardy geraniums and achillea after the first good frost or when they start to look ragged. Remove dead stems down to a healthy crown. For plants that flower on new wood, like some buddleias and lavender, a tidy trim helps shape them. However, we generally avoid cutting spring-flowering shrubs such as forsythia and early viburnum until after they have finished flowering, as they set buds on old wood. Hydrangeas also need careful treatment: many flower on old wood, so we only remove any dead stems and tidy up lightly.
Ornamental grasses and roses
For deciduous ornamental grasses, we generally leave the fluffy seedheads through winter for structure and bird food, and cut them back hard in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Evergreen grasses get a light tidy but only if necessary. With roses we remove obviously dead or diseased canes and tidy up the plants, but we leave any major pruning until late winter or early spring to avoid disturbing stems that offer some frost protection.
Tools and technique
You'll need a pair of sharp secateurs, loppers for thicker stems and a pruning saw for older wood. Make clean cuts at a slight angle and sterilise tools between plants if any disease is present. Wear sturdy gloves and long sleeves when cutting back brambles or other thorny growth. For larger jobs, we use a wheelbarrow and garden shears to collect the trimmings as we go.
What to do with the cuttings
It's always best to compost healthy green material and send woody or diseased prunings to the
local green-waste collection or burn them (only where allowed). If you want to tidy a border and also improve soil levels, we can build raised beds to give new plants a fresh start.
Timing and local considerations
Devon’s mild coast often delays hard frosts, so watch the forecast and local microclimates. Aim to do most cutting back in late autumn to early winter but be prepared to leave some tasks until late winter if plants still look healthy. Leaving a few stems and seedheads helps overwintering insects and birds, and then a light tidy in spring finishes the job.
If you'd like a hand or personalised advice,
contact our team, we're happy to help.
