When to start cutting back?

Hi

Is it OK to start cutting back things now? Shrubs mainly...

I'm guessing waiting a month or so is probably better but when the autumnal weather sets in I tend to forget about the garden and I know it won't get done!

Thanks

 

Hi roger, it really depends on which shrubs you are talking about. Some need no cutting back at all, others might be better at a different time, let us know which ones and I am sure you will get a good selection of opinions.

 

Oh blimey - was hoping for a simple answer! I don't know what most things are as they were there when we got the house.

I planted a Wysteria and that's gone rather mad but that's the only one I can name...

 

If you aren't sure of the names, post a few pictures of them and people will tell you what they are and when/if they should be pruned.

 

Roger, as a professional, I will be cutting back most shrubs in the next month. My clients want their gardens "tidy" for the winter months.:gnthb:

 

Cut back whenever you like but unlike gardeners in my town don't trim during the birds breeding season. When I cut back, mainly just to tidy my borders I do take plenty of cuttings.

 

taking some photos would be a good idea roger :gnthb: Wisteria does go a bit mad. It's best to shortern all the long whippy shoots to 5 or 6 buds in summer...do it quickly if you still have them on. (You can leave any on you want to train in to extend the plant along a wall or whatever.)Then in Jan/Feb cut the same shoots back to a couple of buds.
I am a professional gardener too...and I think Dai is taking it for granted that he just knows which stuff to cut back. I know he wouldn't cut back shrubs like Cornus that was going to have lovely red stems or Rubus cockbernianus with white stems all winter. Chop them right down in February :wink: