Autumn Garden Maintenance: Your October & November Care Guide
- Elisa Montalti
- Oct 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 21
As the light softens and the air cools, autumn becomes a time for reflection and preparation for winter. Although summer has passed, autumn gardening offers us the opportunity to renew the soil, nurture our plants, prune, and plant for the upcoming year.
At Luxury Gardens, we see autumn garden maintenance as a moment of quiet refinement, ensuring every landscape remains balanced, resilient, and beautiful through the colder months.
October Garden Tasks: Laying the Groundwork
October garden tasks are as crucial as your spring tasks. October is a transition month, when summer gives way to structure and texture. It’s the time to condition, tidy, and set the rhythm for next spring.
Refresh Borders and Divide Perennials
Many herbaceous plants begin to fade in late September and October, which means it's time to cut spent stems of perennials that no longer offer structure. However, those with seed heads, such as echinacea, rudbeckia, or grasses, are best left for winter structure and wildlife.
Where plants have outgrown their space, divide and replant them to rejuvenate the border and encourage more vigorous flowering next year.
Plant Bulbs for Spring Colour
October is ideal for planting bulbs for spring colour, from crocus and daffodils to tulips and alliums. The soil is still warm, encouraging quick root development before winter.
Clear Leaves
Clear leaves regularly from hard surfaces and lawns to prevent algae and staining on porous stone. Collected leaves can be stored to make leaf mould, a nutrient-rich compost that improves soil texture next year.
Lawn Care
Healthy lawn care depends on good autumn preparation. Aerate and scarify to relieve compaction, then apply a slow-release autumn feed to strengthen roots. Finish with a high cut before growth slows.
Protecting Tender Plants
Begin protecting tender plants such as agapanthus, olives, or citrus. Move pots to sheltered areas, wrap containers in fleece or hessian, and raise them off the ground to prevent waterlogging.
November Garden Jobs: Preparing for Winter
Bare Root Planting
As the season starts to cool, with more favourable conditions, it's the perfect time to begin bare-root planting, including roses, trees, and fruit. Planting in November allows roots to develop and settle before spring growth.
Feeding Garden Beds, Borders and Mulching
Autumn is the perfect time for feeding garden beds, borders, and mulching after the intensity of the growing season. Soil nutrients naturally decline over the spring and summer, and replenishing them now will support vigorous root activity through winter.
Pruning Shrubs in Autumn
Pruning shrubs in Autumn is about refinement rather than renovation. As growth slows, it’s the ideal time to assess the overall shape of shrubs and remove what the summer has left behind.
When to Prune Herbaceous Plants
When to prune herbaceous plants and perennials depends on your garden style and planting palette. Generally, late autumn (October to early November) is suitable for tidying collapsed plants or harbouring disease. However, many perennials — such as sedums, grasses, and echinaceas — provide valuable winter silhouettes and insect habitats.
We recommend a selective approach:
Cut back untidy or diseased stems once they’ve died down.
Leave plants with architectural seed heads for winter interest.
For ornamental grasses, delay cutting until early spring.
This balanced method protects both aesthetic structure and biodiversity.
When to Prune Roses
One of the most common questions is whether autumn or late winter is the right time to prune roses.
In the UK, major rose pruning is best carried out in late winter to early spring (February–March), when plants are dormant and can respond strongly to shaping. Pruning too early in autumn can stimulate soft new growth easily damaged by frost.
That said, a light autumn tidy is beneficial. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing stems, and shorten long growth to prevent wind rock during winter. For climbing or rambling roses, tidy and tie in new stems, leaving structural pruning until the end of winter.
Autumn Rose Pruning Tips:
Lightly tidy in autumn for health and stability.
Tie in climbers and ramblers before winter.
Leave hard pruning until February–March to shape and rejuvenate.
Pruning Shrubs in Autumn
Autumn pruning is about refinement rather than renovation. As growth slows, it’s the ideal time to assess shrubs' overall shape and remove what the summer has left behind.
Cutting out dead, diseased, or crossing stems opens up the structure and improves air circulation. Lightly shorten this year’s vigorous shoots to maintain form and prevent wind damage over winter — particularly in exposed gardens.
Avoid heavy pruning now, as it can trigger new growth that is vulnerable to frost. Instead, reserve primary shaping or rejuvenation pruning for late winter or early spring, once the risk of hard frost has passed.
Some exceptions can be made:
Evergreen shrubs (such as box, yew, or bay) can be clipped lightly to neaten their outline.
Late-flowering deciduous shrubs (like hydrangeas) are best left until spring — their spent flower heads protect developing buds.
Shrubs that flower on new wood (like buddleja or lavatera) can be lightly pruned now and harder in spring.
This approach maintains structure, protects vulnerable growth, and leaves the garden composed and cared for as winter approaches.
Autumn Garden Maintenance Checklist - October
Divide and replant perennials
Cut back herbaceous plants as needed
Plant spring bulbs
Aerate and feed lawns
Protect tender plants and move pots
Clear leaves and debris
Autumn Garden Maintenance Checklist - November
Mulch borders and topdress soil
Plant bare-root trees and shrubs
Prune lightly where needed
Clean and store tools, cover furniture
Service irrigation and water features
Plan for spring projects
Final Thoughts for Autumn Garden Maintenance
At Luxury Gardens, we believe that autumn garden maintenance is not only about horticultural precision but also about understanding the natural rhythm of the landscape. Whether it’s pruning, conditioning the soil, or preparing borders for the next season, every task plays a vital role in preserving the lasting beauty of your garden.
Our team provides tailored seasonal maintenance across London, Surrey, Sussex, and Kent, ensuring each space is cared for with the same attention to detail that defines our design work.
Our team provides tailored seasonal maintenance across London, Surrey, Sussex, and Kent, ensuring each space is cared for with the same attention to detail that defines our design work.
If you’d like to schedule an Autumn Maintenance Visit, or discuss ongoing garden care, please get in touch — we’d be delighted to help your garden look and feel its best through every season.
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