'Prioritize pruning these plants in October or risk no blooms next year

To prepare your garden for the imminent first frost, a gardening expert has offered advice on what to prune. Pruning is a method of removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches and stems to encourage new and healthy growth.

Moreover, pruning can enhance the tidiness of a shrub or tree, thereby improving the overall aesthetic of your garden. Fiona Jenkins, a gardening expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk, said: "Pruning is an important job that you need to complete during this month.

"There are several plants that may benefit from being pruned at this time. Here's what you should prioritize," reports the Express .

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1. Roses.

The expert elaborated: "Roses should be pruned at this time to shape them and remove any dead bits of wood or diseased wood.

"When pruning roses, make sure you use clean and sharp pruning shears. Cut back the stems to around six to 12 inches from the ground and remove any dead or diseased wood."

Roses should be pruned in autumn or in the early spring. If you prune your roses in winter, they will be less likely to bloom the following spring.

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2. Shrubs.

Gardeners can now also prune any deciduous shrubs that have finished flowering. When pruning shrubs, ensure to remove any dead or diseased wood, and shape it by removing unwanted branches.

Fiona pointed out: "When pruning shrubs, it is important to avoid pruning them too heavily, as this would weaken the plant."

The expert further added that gardeners can choose to perform this task in the early spring as well. The gardening expert advised: "Prune fruit trees to help improve their shape and yield. When pruning fruit trees, make sure you remove all of the diseased wood or dead wood. "You can also thin out the branches to help improve circulation and also improve sun penetration.

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3. Fruit trees.

Fruit trees should be pruned during late winter or early spring. When pruning fruit trees, it's important that you avoid pruning them too heavily as this could weaken the plant and reduce its yield."

October is a cracking time for other garden upkeep chores as well, including raking leaves, giving the lawn a final mow before the chill sets in and getting those spring-flowering bulbs into the ground.

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