Overview

• Germany’s ban on heavy hedge work ended on October 1, and while major cuts are legally allowed through February, current guidance stresses restraint this month.
• Conifers and other evergreens should get a light second trim in October so cuts can seal before winter, using clean, sharp tools.
• Deciduous hedges such as hornbeam and privet are best shaped from mid‑October to early November on dry, frost‑free afternoons, and gardeners should still check for any late nests.
• Autumn raspberries should be cut down to ground level after harvest, while currants require species‑specific pruning: remove the oldest main canes on red and white varieties and the weakest shoots on black ones.
• Roses should only be lightly shortened to aid winter protection, and across all plants experts warn to avoid wet or frosty conditions because wounds heal more slowly in dormancy.