Autumn is a season of transition when nature begins to prepare for winter rest. It is the best time, therefore, to intervene with targeted pruning of some plants, shrubs and trees, which can benefit from well-executed cuts. Removing dead or damaged branches allows the plant to cope with cold winter months and to get ready for the subsequent spring revival.
What to prune in autumn to get the best results? In this guide we will try to understand which cuts to make in September, October and November, but also what to look out for and what tools to use for a satisfying result.
Campagnola’s proposals guarantee high quality standards, whether you choose to operate with pneumatic, manual or electric tools powered by backpack or plug-in batteries.
Why is it important to prune in autumn?
Autumn pruning is performed when the plants enter a resting phase which lasts approximately from September until March/April. At this stage, the metabolism is slowed down, and the branches can heal their wounds easily, counting on less sap flow. Moreover, the climate is still warm, and every cut is less stressful for the plant than it would be in late winter.
In any case, to decide whether and which plants to prune in autumn, it is necessary to consider several factors, such as health condition, age and needs of the plant, or the degree of humidity of the area. It is also essential to know which species can be pruned in autumn rather than dry pruning in winter, an intervention carried out in spring, or a green pruning carried out in the warmer months.
Generally, autumn pruning focuses on:
– conifers (such as fir, cypress or juniper), which need to be cut in autumn to better withstand the cold temperatures of winter months,
– deciduous trees (such as willow, birch or maple),
– evergreens,
– some fruit trees (such as apple and pear trees or many citrus fruits).
On the other hand, among the plants that do not tolerate autumn pruning, there are aromatic ones (thyme, rosemary, etc.), hydrangeas and shrubs that bloom in spring.
Let’s delve deeper into the topic exploring what to prune in September, October and November since for each plant mentioned, a specific pruning plan should be examined comprising summer and winter pruning. Also, another key factor to take into consideration is that the best time to prune varies depending on several aspects, such as climate, geographical latitude, condition of the soil or the plant itself.
What to prune in September?
Between summer and autumn, the month of September has usually an extremely pleasant climate to perform cuts that heal quickly, without suffering from winter frosts. It’s a great time to work on the most sensitive plants and in September you can prune:
– plants that are easily affected by gummosis, such as cherry or apricot trees,
– fruit trees such as some citrus fruits or the Japanese loquat,
– certain evergreen aromatic plants, such as rosemary, sage or lavender.
What to prune in October?
Those who choose to prune in October can count on temperatures that are still mild and a level of humidity that is able to promote the rehydration of the branches after the intervention. Here are the main plants that you can prune in October, considering their metabolism:
– roses,
– oleander,
– deciduous plants, beech, birch, oak, linden, willow, poplar, maple, alder or ash,
– evergreen shrubs, such as holly, laurel or osmanthus,
– shrubby plants such as raspberries, blackberries, or the lemon plant.
What to prune in November?
The month of November marks the beginning of pruning carried out in the coldest season which immediately precedes those performed in winter. The cuts made during this period have different purposes, such as plant modelling, removing old and damaged branches and preventing the spread of diseases or parasites.
What to prune in this month, if the needs and climatic conditions allow it? Among the many species we can mention:
– grapevine,
– fruit shrubs such as raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants,
– roses,
– wisteria,
– apple and pear trees which can be pruned from November/December until February/March,
– kiwi,
– lemon tree,
– the kernel,
– deciduous plants such as beech trees,
– ornamental trees such as maple, hornbeam or plane tree.
Choosing Campagnola for autumn pruning
To effectively prune plants or trees, it is essential to only use professional tools that can be used to perform clean and precise cuts leaving very smooth wood surfaces.
In the Campagnola’s products line, you can find:
– a wide selection of manual tools (such as pruning shears, manual saws and loppers), specifically designed to carry out small cuts of thin branches at high speed.
– engine-driven tools, powered by electric backpack or plug-in batteries, or compressed air, making them the perfect solution for all intensive pruning jobs.
Among the solutions designed by Campagnola you can find quick, lightweight and handy electric pruning shears with plug-in lithium-ion batteries, such as SPEEDY, STARK XM and STARK XL, or STARK 90-160-220 V1, designed to work from the ground on high branches.
Among the electric chain pruners, always driven by plug-in batteries, the most recommended are T-FOX or T-REX (also compatible with telescopic extension poles of 160-240 or 250-300 cm), while for finishing operations, you can rely on T-CAT M V1.
If you would like to take advantage of electric versions for professional and intensive pruning, count on the power of KRONOS 58, the perfect electric chain pruner for any type of plant.
On the other hand, if you would like to rely on our pneumatic solutions for autumn pruning, we should mention pneumatic pruning shears such as STAR 30, STAR 40 with adapter, VICTORY R (also with adapter) or SUPER STAR A DOPPIO TAGLIO which allows you to work on branches of different sizes and they have been designed to comply with the needs of the most demanding professionals as to power and handiness.
Pneumatic chain pruners, such as LASER, allow you to cut branches up to 20 cm of diameter, while LINX and AUTOLUBE M.3, which are extremely versatile, can be only used with an extension pole.
To discover all the Campagnola brand proposals dedicated to autumn pruning do not hesitate to contact us. You can also contact our specialised dealer closest to you to look at the tools and have the assistance you need before and after your purchase.