Here we are in the middle of October. The air has cooled down. Leaves are changing color and falling. It’s a beautiful sight! I love fall.
With the change in season, it’s tempting to grab our pruners and start tidying up the garden. We want to trim back shrubs and trees, eager to refresh the landscape before winter. But here’s the catch: fall is NOT the time to prune.
Why? Pruning now can trigger new growth just when plants are trying to go dormant. This tender new growth is vulnerable to frost damage—remember, our average first frost is around October 20 here in Central Virginia. If frost hits those fresh tips, it will kill them, weakening the plant. Plus, pruning encourages sap flow when plants really should be conserving energy and sending it down to their roots. Damaged cuts are slower to heal in fall, leaving your plants open to pests and diseases.
Each year, I hand out hundreds of copies of the GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL PRUNING, SHRUB PRUNING CALENDAR, which was created by Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Yes, this handout was produced back in 1998, but all this information is still very relevant and accurate.
Look it over. You will see that there is not one shrub or tree that should be pruned in October.
Here’s a growing trend I want to share: let your plants grow naturally. If you space and plant thoughtfully to accommodate their mature size, you can enjoy their unaltered beauty without the stress of constant pruning.
So, hold off on those pruners for now! According to the guide, pruning season picks up again in November, especially for evergreens like boxwoods, hollies, and junipers, perfect for holiday decorating.
Fall is a time for garden cleanup, raking leaves, pulling weeds, and refreshing lawns, but not for random pruning that could do more harm than good.