Category: Shrubs and Roses

Bare-root, rootballed or container-grown deciduous trees, hedging and shrubs can be planted, but do not plant in wet conditions. Roses can be pruned late in the year, including bedding roses and climbers, especially in mild areas where this is a very short rest period for roses. Check that young trees are securely staked. Young trees can be pruned to remove badly placed branches. The lower branches of garden trees can be pruned up to allow light to plants underneath.

  • Check on young trees to ensure that they are not developing bad forking habits and remove one side of a fork if necessary. It is easy to see these problems now that the leaves are gone.
  • Prune the lower branches off garden trees, though not cherries, to allow light to reach lower plants.
  • Delay tree planting if the ground is very wet because the ground drainage can be affected in the root zone and this can lead to heavy losses.
  • Roses can be pruned at any time, and new bushes or climbers planted too.
  • Plant shelter belts, hedges, and woodland areas, ideally planting small bare-root whips or transplants, which are relatively cheap to buy, establish well and are easily planted.
  • Move deciduous trees or shrubs that need more room or are simply in the wrong place. Most deciduous shrubs move successfully.
  • In exposed districts, stop planting garden evergreens.
  • Plant roses of all kinds now to ensure that root growth will be well underway before spring.
  • If there is a lot of rain, tree planting must be put on hold if the ground is very sodden.
  • Rose bushes can be shortened in exposed cold localities to prevent wind-rocking, and fully pruned in mild areas.
  • Control grass and weeds around the base of young trees to encourage better growth. Old carpet is good for this purpose.
  • Control weeds at the base of young hedges to avoid the likelihood of the base of the stems not furnishing properly with branches.
  • The lower branches of garden trees and large shrubs can be pruned to allow light in the lower plants. This can be done during winter until March, but do not prune cherry family plants.
  • Roses can be tidied up in cold districts, the stems shortened to prevent wind-rocking, and fully pruned in mild areas.
  • Losses of trees and shrubs planted into water-sodden ground will be increased because of the tendency of wet soil to smear and clump together, denying vital oxygen to the roots, so tree planting must be suspended if the ground is very wet.
  • The lower branches of garden trees can be pruned up to allow light to plants underneath.
  • It is a perfect time to plant roses, both bush roses and climbers of all kinds
  • Planting of deciduous trees and shrubs and bare-root plants is now underway and trees planted a this time of year setle in well before spring.
  • It is also a good time to move deciduous trees or shrubs that need more room, or are simply in the wrong place, rather than have to cut them back.
  • Put off planting evergreens, except those in pots, until spring. There is nothing to gain from having evergreens buffeted by the wind over the next three months.
  • Planting of bare-root deciduous trees, hedging and shrubs can continue during dry weather.
  • Evergreens can still be planted but on an exposed site where severe witner winds might dry out the foliage, it would be best to wait until spring for planting.
  • Rose bushes can be planted now, but not in wet soil.
  • All kinds of pot-grown trees and shrubs can also be planted, of course.
  • Check that all climbers or wall shrubs are properly tied in.
  • To establish small wooded areas and shelter belts, plant small whips from now on. These are mostly sold as bare-root stock and as much cheaper to establish that larger stock.
  • Make sure all existing vegetation is killed with Roundup or similar before planting hedging or trees or shrubs.
  • Evergreens can still be planted but it would be best to wait until spring in an exposed site where winter winds might desiccate the foliage.
  • Rose bushes can be planted now.
  • Check the tree ties on trees planted and staked in recent years to ensure the stakes are solid and the ties are firm but not rubbing the tree bark.
  • Planting of bare-root deciduous trees, hedging and shrubs can continue in good weather. Do not plant into wet ground or into planting holes that fill with water, because the wet conditions cause the roots to rot.
  • All kinds of pot-grown trees and shrubs can also be planted, of course.
  • Check that young trees are securely staked – wind-rocking can seriously damage young trees that are not yet wind-firm.
  • Check wall shrubs and climbers to ensure they are firm.
  • The ground is generally in good condition at this time of year for planting all kinds of deciduous and pot-grown conifers and broadleaved evergreens. Delay planting if the soil is wet.
  • Deciduous trees and shrubs can also be moved during this time, as can roses. Most kinds move well, especially if they are not too old, and some care is taken with lifting.
  • Check stakes and ties on young trees and provide a stake for shrubs or standard roses that are showing signs of rocking.
  • The ground is generally in good condition at this time of year for planting all kinds of deciduous and pot-grown conifers and broadleaved evergreens. Delay planting if the soil is wet.
  • Deciduous trees and shrubs can also be moved during this time, as can roses. Most kinds move well, especially if they are not too old, and some care is taken with lifting.
  • Check stakes and ties on young trees and provide a stake for shrubs or standard roses that are showing signs of rocking.
  • This is the traditional planting season for evergreens of all kinds, just a little ahead of the main season for planting deciduous trees.
  • Plant now either from pots or as soon as root-balled plants are available, and, of course, pot-grown deciduous trees and shrubs can be planted too.
  • Young trees should be checked for staking if they need it.
  • Prune rambler roses.
  • Control weeds in rose beds and shrub borders, if necessary.
  • It is time to prepare ground for planting trees and shrubs, including hedging, if not already done.
  • The planting itself can take place now for evergreens or in two months for bare-root deciduous trees, or planting can be delayed until spring if the weather is wet and the ground becomes sodden.
  • Do not plant until spring in an exposed area as the young trees will be damaged by strong winds before they get a chance to get established.
  • Check that trees recently planted are properly staked and stake any old shrubs that appear top-heavy.
  • Check on wall trained climbers that their support is solid.
  • Finish clipping hedges as soon as possible, all kinds of hedge can be clipped at this time and they will stay neat longer if clipped now.
  • Make sure to water camellias in pots.
  • Preparations for late autumn tree planting could be made now, controlling existing grass and weeds with Roundup.
  • In a good growing year, many rambler roses carry a few late flowers and pruning could be delayed to get the benefit of these.
  • Evergreen shrubs could be moved now if they need to be given more space.
  • Roses that were pruned after flowering and were given some rose fertilizer will be showing a new crop of late buds and flowers – these can even flower into early winter if there is no frost.
  • Evergreens can be lifted from late September and re-planted.
  • Control grass and weeds on areas that are marked down for planting in autumn.
  • Check that young trees are securely tied to stakes, goin ginto autumn gales and winter weather.
  • If bindweed was a problem in shrub areas, untangle some of the stems and place them on the soil surface where they can be sprayed with Roundup without getting spray on the shrubs.
  • Roundup is very effective at this time of year as the chemical is taken down into the underground root system.
  • Very often young trees lose their leaves very late as they continue to grow late in the year to build up strength.
  • Shrub roses and ramblers could now be pruned by removing some of the shoots that flowered.
  • The planting of all kinds of trees, shrubs and roses, especially bare-root or rootballed kinds, can be planted in good weather. 
  • Check that all staked young trees are properly tied and also tall shrubs that can be rocked by wind.
  • The lower branches of garden trees can be pruned up to allow light to plants underneath.
  • Trimming of all evergreen hedges – cypress, thuya, holly and laurel – can be carried out about now. As growth is nearly over for the year, there will be very little new growth and the hedges will stay neat until about May.
  • Even this late in the growing year, young trees can benefit from watering if they appear to be struggling – they can still make some growth in the remaining couple of months.
  • Preparations for autumn and winter planting can be made now, clearing grass and weeds.
  • The planting of all kinds of trees, shrubs and roses, especially bare-root or rootballed kinds, can be planted in good weather. 
  • Check that all staked young trees are properly tied and also tall shrubs that can be rocked by wind.
  • The lower branches of garden trees can be pruned up to allow light to plants underneath.
  • Take out spent flower shoots of roses about half-way down to encourage late flowers.
  • If new areas are to be planted with trees this autumn, especially small plants for woodland or shelter planting, clear existing vegetation with two applications of Roundup or similar glyphosate-based spray, or cover small areas with old carpet to control existing vegetation.
  • Check young trees for signs of drought.
  • Make sure that camellias and rhododendrons in pots do not dry out, especially in late summer, as they now set flower buds for next spring.
  • A late show of roses from strong new shoots can still be obtained by pruning the flowered stems back to a strong bud. New shoots are quickly produced and flower buds will form for late flowers.
  • An application of rose fertilizer will speed this up.
  • Early flowering shrub roses and ramblers that have now finished could be pruned by removing some of the shoots that flowered.
  • Check young trees and shrubs for water shortage.
  • Clip deciduous and broad-leaved evergreen hedges during this time.
  • If bindweed was a problem in shrub areas, untangle some of the stems and place them on the soil surface where they can be sprayed with Roundup without getting spray on the shrubs.
  • Roundup is very effective at this time of year as the chemical is taken down into the underground root system.
  • Very often young trees lose their leaves very?late as they continue to grow late in the year to build up strength.
  • Shrub roses and ramblers can now be pruned by removing some of the shoots that flowered.
  • Early flowering shrub roses and ramblers that have now finished flowering could be pruned by removing some of the shoots that flowered.
  • Young trees and shrubs, planted in the last year or so, should be checked for signs of drought.
  • Garden hedge clipping can continue during this period, but make sure to check there are no nesting birds.
  • Some hedges, such as privet, lonicera and cotoneaster need more frequent clipping than others, such as beech, holly and laurel, and this requires more effort.
  • It is time to clip hedges of all kinds before the wood gets tough. Any heavy cutting back of a hedge should be left until the start of the growing season next year.
  • Roses may need to be sprayed against blackspot disease if there is wet weather.
  • Prune shrubs that flowered earlier, but only if they are too big for their allotted space.
  • Check young trees for signs of drought.
  • Check beech hedging for signs of beech aphid, which is woolly, and spray with insecticide if the infestation is heavy on a young hedge.
  • Take cuttings of shrubs, using soft shoots of the current year’s new growth.
  • If the weather is dry, there is no need to spray for blackspot disease of roses, but if it turns out wet, it is necessary to spray rose bushes, well into summer especially in the damper parts of the country.
  • Early flowering shrub roses and ramblers that have now finished could be pruned.
  • Water young trees and shrubs if they look like they need it, applying about twenty litres per plant at a time, if there is a dry spell more than a week.
  • Take cuttings of the soft growth of shrubs, such as cistus, lavender, weigela and tree mallow.
  • Layering can be used to raise a small number of plants – pin down a low-hanging shoot in good compost with a wire pin or a rock.