While often associated with spring, pruning is an essential part of autumn garden care. With the growing season coming to an end, pruning in autumn helps prepare your garden for the cold months ahead and sets the stage for a spectacular display when spring arrives.
In this guide, we’ll cover the why, what, and how of autumn pruning and highlight RYOBI®’s battery-powered solutions that make the job quick and effortless. Each tool in this guide runs on RYOBI®'s interchangeable ONE+ battery, allowing you to switch seamlessly between tools for maximum convenience.
Why prune in autumn?
During autumn, many deciduous plants draw their energy into their roots in preparation for the winter, meaning you can cut them back without harming them.
Autumn pruning serves several vital purposes in your garden, including:
- Managing the control of the size and appearance of plants
- Help increase their production
- Promote strong future growth
- Keep the overall plant healthy
- Prevent conditions for pests and diseases to infect the plant
What should I prune in autumn?
Autumn is the best time to prune many deciduous trees, hardy shrubs and flowering shrubs.
However, it's important to note that not all plants may benefit from autumn pruning. For example, you should generally leave pruning spring-flowering shrubs until after they've bloomed to avoid removing next year's flower buds.
Always research each plant to find out if they would benefit from autumn pruning.
What garden pruning tools do I need?
You'll need a well-stocked tool kit to tackle autumn pruning effectively. Essential items include secateurs for precise, clean cuts on smaller branches, loppers for thicker stems, and a pruning saw for larger limbs.
Using cordless battery powered garden tools for pruning can be a game-changer, giving you the freedom to move around without being tethered to a power source. This is especially the case if you have a garden with numerous trees, which would otherwise make pruning more labour-intensive. The powerful, brushless motor of the RYOBI® 18V ONE+™ HP 20cm Brushless Pruning Saw makes quick work of thicker tree branches that would be difficult and time-consuming to cut manually.
How to prune trees
When pruning trees, start by cutting back any dead, damaged or diseased wood, leaving only the collar – the point where the branch swells as it joins the main stem. Next, remove any crossing stems, in-growing branches or congested areas that could block growth. Make your cuts at a 45-degree angle sloping away from the main stem or trunk so that water doesn't pool in the cut and cause an infection. Always do your pruning on a dry day, as wet conditions increase the chances of fungal infections entering new cuts.
Try to space your cuts out as evenly as possible instead of hacking down a certain area or the entire canopy. Take your time and carefully assess the visual effect of removing each branch. The cleaner your cuts, the less opportunity there is for diseases to set in, so be sure to neaten up any rough edges you leave behind. If you've got lots of hard-to-reach branches the RYOBI® 36V MAX POWER 25cm Pole Saw provides 2.9m in reach offering the capability to prune higher branches without the needless risk of using a ladder.
Clearing pruned material from your garden
After your pruning session, you'll likely be left with a fair amount of fallen leaves and pruned material. Cordless battery powered leaf blowers provide a quick, hassle-free solution to clearing this debris away. The powerful and ultra-quiet RYOBI®18V ONE+™ HP Cordless Brushless WHISPER™ Blower can turn a laborious raking job into light work, helping you maintain a tidy garden.
You can compost healthy pruned branches and leaves or use them as mulch around other plants. However, if you've pruned diseased plants, it's crucial to dispose of this material properly to prevent the spread of pathogens. Either burn it or use your local green waste collection service.
Tidy up your garden with RYOBI® this autumn
RYOBI® has a fantastic selection of gardening tools that can make tidying your garden in autumn more efficient and enjoyable. From pruning saws to leaf blowers, RYOBI® products are available in different sizes and with innovative features.
Explore the RYOBI® range today and don't hesitate to contact us if you need any help choosing the right garden pruning tools for your needs.