Autumn has officially made its entrance and as the leaves begin to tumble, it’s time to start prepping your garden for the chillier winter months.
According to gardening expert Monty Don, there’s one crucial task that needs immediate attention to prevent enduring winter damage.
The 68-year-old has shared his October gardening advice on his blog, urging them to tackle one significant chore this month before the weather takes a turn.
He advised: “Prune climbing roses. Climbing roses bloom on shoots grown the same spring so they can be pruned hard now.”
Pruning is vital if you want your roses to truly flourish. It serves to eliminate dead and dying branches and stubs, making way for new growth. This can be achieved by simply removing parts of the plant during the non-flowering season. “Always use really sharp tools for pruning,” Monty emphasised in a previous post, reports the Mirror.
“Not only does it make life much easier but it also makes for much cleaner cuts and therefore causes less damage to the plant, sharp tools are also much safer.” Additionally, he suggested: “Always use a tool that is operating within its capacity, so never strain. Use loppers for stems too thick for easy cutting with secateurs and a sharp saw for anything that strains loppers.”
Tending to climbing roses involves removing any damaged portions first, as Monty explained: “Start by removing any damaged or crossing growth or any very old wood which can be pruned right back to the ground. The main stems should be fanned out at an equidistance as horizontally as possible, tying them to wires or a trellis.
Then all the side shoots growing from these main stems – which produced this year’s flowers – can be reduced to a short stub of a couple of leaves. ” When it comes to pruning, it’s crucial to make cuts just above a bud facing the direction you want new growth. Monty advised: “The effect should be a tracery of largely horizontal growth with pruned side-shoots running along their length.
Finally make sure it is all tied firmly in to avoid winter damage.”
This guidance arrives shortly after Monty highlighted the significance of preparing new grass for the winter via sowing, turfing, or repairing. In related gardening tips, Fiona Jenkins of MyJobQuote.co.uk told the Express: “It’s best to stop mowing your lawn in autumn.
“The last cut should be between late September and late October. The timeframes can vary depending on your location in the UK and the climate in your area.
“For a more accurate timeframe, I would advise you to pay close attention to your lawn to determine when is best for the last cut,” the pro advised. The first frost of the year is usually a “clear sign” that your mower can be put away for the winter. You’ll observe that your grass growth has slowed down, hence it doesn’t require frequent or any cutting at all.”
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