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As the frosty season approaches, a gardening guru has shared some top tips on what to prune in your garden this month. Pruning is all about getting rid of dead, diseased or damaged branches and stems to encourage fresh, healthy growth, reports the Express.

Plus, it can also help keep your plants looking neat and tidy, enhancing the overall look of your garden.

Fiona Jenkins, a gardening expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk, previously 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 prioritise."

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Roses

Particularly climbing roses should be pruned around this time to shape them and get rid of any dead or diseased wood. The expert advised: "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 ideally be pruned in autumn or early spring. If you prune your roses in winter, they're unlikely to bloom come next spring.

Shrubs

October is also the perfect time to prune any deciduous shrubs that have finished flowering now. When pruning shrubs, ensure to remove any dead areas, and shape them by removing unwanted branches.

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

The gardening guru added that gardeners could opt to perform this task in the spring as well.

Fruit trees

According to the expert, pruning fruit trees can enhance their shape and yield. The rule of thumb is to remove all dead or diseased wood when trimming.

The expert advised: "You can also thin out the branches to help improve circulation and also improve sun penetration.

"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 also an ideal time for other garden maintenance tasks, such as raking leaves, giving the lawn a final mow before winter and planting spring-flowering bulbs.

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