Foolproof guide to Autumn pruning

NEVER mind spring cleaning, in the garden there’s nothing like a good autumn tidy up. The urge to rake up leaves, chop back shrubs, prune perennials and shove it all in the compost or garden waste collection bin can be irresistible at this time of year. But before you sharpen the secateurs be aware that not all plants will benefit from being given the chop.

Exhausted and frosted annuals can certainly go on the compost – there’s no sense leaving their bedraggled foliage to detract from the chrysanthemums, perennial anemones and autumn bulbs at their peak. With perennials, however, it varies: some can be cut back now; others are better left alone until spring.

To chop or not to chop may be