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One aspect of gardening that many of us find confusing is which plants need cutting back and when. Some plants benefit from thorough pruning in the fall, whilst others are best left well alone until the following spring or summer. But how do you know which is which?!

Before you’re tempted to tidy things up this fall, don’t! Certain plants actually benefit from being left as they are, and here’s why. To make things easier, we’ve listed ten common plants you should avoid cutting back in the fall.

1. Lilac

lilac
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Lilacs produce their flower buds for the following spring during the summer, and pruning in the fall would remove these buds and greatly diminish the aromatic floral display of this popular shrub. The best time to prune lilacs is in late spring or early summer, right after they finish flowering,

2. Mock Oranges

mock orange
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Mock Oranges bloom on old wood, so pruning in the fall would remove next year’s flower buds. These sweet-smelling shrubs are best pruned in late spring or early summer, right after flowering.

3. Azaleas & Rhododendrons

Azaleas
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These close relations should be pruned in spring as soon as they have finished blooming. Any pruning done after this will remove next year’s flowers, but it may be necessary to cut back damaged stems after harsh winter storms.

4. Magnolias

magnolias
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Magnolias are sensitive to heavy pruning, and cuts made in the fall may stress the plant, especially in regions prone to early frosts. To keep your magnolia in peak condition prune lightly after flowering to give the tree time to recover.

5. Bleeding Heart

White bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) 'Alba' with divided, light green foliage and arching sprays of pure white, heart-shaped flowers with protruding white petals, which dangle above the foliage in the garden.
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Many perennial plants, such as bleeding hearts, naturally die back during the fall, but they use the energy from dying leaves to replenish energy stores in the roots before the winter. Avoid pruning foliage until it is completely dead, and hold off on heavy pruning until early spring.

6. Forsythia

Bright yellow Forsythia bush flowers in the garden in spring season close up.
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Forsythia blooms on old wood, and cutting it in the fall would remove many of the buds needed for a strong spring display. This is another shrub that benefits from being pruned right after spring pruning.

7. Russian Sage

russian sage
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The foliage and stems of Russian sage might look messy at the end of the season, but they protect the delicate crown from cold weather during the winter months. Hold off pruning this plant until early spring, after the last frost.

8. Wisteria

wisteria
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Pruning wisteria in fall encourages new growth that may be damaged by winter frost and will also remove next season’s flower buds. Wisteria benefits from pruning twice a year, lightly in late spring after flowering and again in midsummer.

9. Coneflowers

Echinecea coneflower
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Although pruning coneflowers in the fall won’t harm the plant, it will remove an important food source for birds through the winter months. Leave the dead seed heads in place until warmer weather returns in the spring.

10. Roses

roses in garden
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Pruning roses stimulate a flush of new growth sensitive to frost, making the plant vulnerable to winter damage. Cut back your roses in late winter or early spring when the plant is still dormant.

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Camellias
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Thunderstorm with heavy hail and sleet showers. Hailstones on the ground.
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Kate Chalmers
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Kate is a passionate gardener who has a keen interest in all things related to homesteading and sustainability. She resides in Portugal with her husband and menagerie of animals and has over 15 years of experience in the UK veterinary industry. In 2020, Kate and her husband took on a dilapidated Portuguese house and abandoned olive grove, turning it into an abundant food forest and home for nature.

Life on the homestead is never the same from one day to the next, and Kate has mastered many skills that she is keen to pass on to anyone with an interest in becoming more self-sufficient. Kate believes that living a sustainable lifestyle is the key to happiness and fulfillment and that everyone can make simple changes that connect us back to nature and reduce our impact on the planet.

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