Pruning tools

Though my busiest pruning periods are generally late May and mid-August, November also sees the secateurs getting quite a workout. In early November, one task is to cut back the old-fashioned deciduous shrubs that bloom in mid-spring in my garden - such as Philadelphus and Deutzia. Other shrubs in this category include Weigela and Spiraea cantoniensis. These shrubs should have about one-fifth of the old, flowered canes cut out completely at ground level, to encourage new growth, with the rest of the canes being shortened back by about one-third, to a newly developing shoot. Evergreen exotic and native shrubs that have now finished flowering, such as Rondeletia, Brunfelsia, Streptosolen, Mackaya bella, Justicia floribunda and Callistemon are given a firm overall trim.

Abutilon can be pruned now

Abutilon can be pruned now

For quite a while, I have been pruning Abutilon towards the end of the November. These so-called Chinese lantern shrubs seem to bloom all the time, but I observed them closely one year and noted that in November the flowering tapered off and this seemed an ideal time to cut them back quite hard. I have been happy with this approach. I also discovered that some of the larger-sized Salvia bushes that bloom from autumn until spring - such as Salvia 'Omaha Gold', Salvia 'Costa Rican Blue', Salvia involucrata x karwinski 'Winter Lipstick', Salvia dorisiana, Salvia gesneriiflora 'Tequila', Salvia roscida and Salvia rubiginosa - are best pruned in November so that they can develop a more stocky form for next year's flowering, otherwise they can get tall and straggly (though I don't grow all of these big ones these days myself).

Persicaria Red Dragon can be cut back now

Persicaria Red Dragon can be cut back now

I have also in recent times started to do what I have heard described as 'wallaby pruning' - regular light trimming back of long-flowering plants to keep them compact and encourage further blooms or fresh decorative foliage. This seems a helpful process for many of the smaller Salvia shrubs such as Salvia microphylla and Salvia x jamensis cultivars. I am also thinking of trimming 'Amistad' this month to keep the plant more compact and get a fresh burst of its purple flower spikes. Other plants that seem to be look better with regular light pruning include the seemingly ever-flowering shrimp plants (Justicia brandegeeana), which becomes a bit spindly over time, and Persicaria 'Red Dragon', as the dramatic colour of its spring leaves starts to fade by the end of November: cutting back will give a flush of fresh, bright foliage. Colourful Iresine herbstii also tends to get a bit lanky by now and can be given a bit of a haircut.

Elaeagnus x submacrophylla Silverberry can be trimmed to shape now

Elaeagnus x submacrophylla Silverberry can be trimmed to shape now

After the flurry of spring growth, hedges (whether formal or informal), topiary and evergreen foliage shrubs such as Elaeagnus, Duranta 'Sheena's Gold', Buxus macrophylla, Euonymus japonicus can all look better with trimming. Wayward spring-flowering vines can also be cut back now - examples include Clytostoma and Petrea.

Dahlias benefit from being deadheaded from now on

Dahlias benefit from being deadheaded from now on

Some of the work is more like snipping off deadheads: the faded flower spikes of spring-flowering perennials such as Acanthus mollis, Arthropidium cirrhatum, Alstroemeria hybrids, Aquilegia and hellebores are all removed in November. The compact pink may bush (Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer'), which has just finished its first flush of blooms can have all the spent flowers removed and several more flushes will occur over summer if this is done on a regular basis. Daylilies (Hemerocallis cultivars) are in full bloom now and the withered flowers are best removed on a daily basis to make the plants look better. Regular deadheading of Dahlia and Canna will help these tuberous perennials bloom on until early autumn!

Doing all this pruning and snipping in November has the added bonus of rejuvenating the garden in time for Christmas!